In a brutal act of targeted violence, Khawarij terrorists martyred two police personnel near Sakhi Gate in the Kulachi tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan, once again laying bare the grave security threat posed by these anti-state elements in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police officials, the martyred officers were identified as Head Constable Ghulam Muhammad, a resident of Panyala village, Dera Ismail Khan, and Constable Shehzad, belonging to Aba Khel village, Lakki Marwat. The officers came under sudden and unprovoked gunfire while on duty. The Khawarij attackers, taking advantage of the element of surprise, opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene.
Both policemen embraced martyrdom on the spot. Their bodies were shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities. The district police immediately launched a large-scale search operation in the surrounding areas to trace and apprehend the assailants.
This is not an isolated incident. Dera Ismail Khan has witnessed a surge in Khawarij violence in recent months, with police and security forces often bearing the brunt of their ambushes and targeted strikes. The recurrence of such attacks has raised serious concerns about the presence and movement of Khawarij cells in settled areas, particularly along the borders of tribal districts.
Officials say these attacks are a calculated attempt by the Khawarij to demoralize the security forces, disrupt law and order, and erode public confidence in state institutions. However, law enforcement agencies have vowed to go after the perpetrators with full force.
“Every drop of our martyrs’ blood will be avenged. We will hunt down the Khawarij responsible for this atrocity and bring them to justice,” a police spokesperson said, adding that intelligence-based operations have been intensified in the area.
The sacrifices of Ghulam Muhammad and Shehzad will not go in vain. Their martyrdom stands as a testament to the bravery and commitment of the police force in the face of relentless threats. Tributes poured in from across the region, with officials and citizens alike mourning the loss of two courageous defenders of peace.
