An inspector and a constable of police were martyred when Khawarij opened fire on a search party in the Lachi area of Kohat district, where a large-scale operation has been under way for the past two days. Officials said the exchange took place in Nader Banda, within the limits of Lachi Police Station, when Khawarij ambushed the advancing police team in difficult mountainous terrain. Inspector Tahir Nawaz Khan and Constable Muhammad Ali embraced martyrdom in the assault.
The operation was launched after Tuesday night’s deadly attack in Banda Daud Shah, Karak, where a Station House Officer and two constables were martyred. Since then, police backed by security forces have been combing the rugged hills of Karak and Lachi to track down the perpetrators.
On Wednesday evening, two policemen sustained injuries in a similar attack during the search operation. The latest incident has raised the toll of police personnel martyred or wounded over the past three days to seven.
Senior officials reiterated that the offensive would continue until the Khawarij were eliminated, stressing that the sacrifices of the fallen policemen would not go in vain and had only reinforced the resolve of the force.
