TTP claims responsibility of attack on police check post in Matni
The image shows the site of the attack. — Photo by Zahir Shah Sherazi
PESHAWAR: Banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Monday claimed responsibility of attacking a police check post set up on the main Peshawar-Kohat Road in the Matni area on the outskirts of Peshawar, killing seven FC and police personnel.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Khurshid Khan and six others, including police and Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, were killed whereas 12 others were injured when more than 300 militants attacked the check post.
Speaking over the telephone to this correspondent from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan accepted the responsibility of the attack and said they beheaded SP Khan and two FC officials during the fight and had taken away heads of all three security officials with them.
“We have also taken away two night vision goggles, 15 Kalashnikovs, two rocket launchers, three mobile jammers, 30 rounds of magazines and three heavy machine guns from the check post,” said Ehsan. Two TTP fighters sustained injuries during the fight, he added.
According to police sources, the heavily armed militants attacked the check post, resulting in a three hour gunfight.
Those killed included three policemen and four FC personnel. Sources said the militants had beheaded SP Khan on the spot.
The 12 injured included FC and police personnel who were shifted to the Lady Reading Hospital for treatment.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced the Sitara-i-Jurat award for the slain SP in recognition of his bravery.
The militants ransacked the check post and set it on fire, reducing police equipment and weapons in the office to ashes. At least four vehicles and three motorcycles were also destroyed in the attack.
Police sources said the militants fled after the attack and there were no militant casualty figures available as yet whereas a number of security personnel were missing.
Funeral prayers of SP (rural) Khan and the other slain officials were offered later today.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain and a large number of police officers were among those attending the prayers.
Speaking to media representatives after the prayers, Chief Minister Hoti said that terrorists wanted to deteriorate Peshawar’s security situation.
Moreover, the provincial information minister said that the KP government would soon launch an operation against the terrorists.
KARACHI IS STILL VERY SAFE HEAVEN FOR THESE CRIMINALS.ALL THESE BIG CRIMINALS HAVE PERMENANTLY MOVED INTO KARACHI.
You can reach in three hours while WALKING to this place Matani from the Headquarters of Police, FC and Army in Peshawar city. There was a murder and firing in this same area about 40 years ago. People asked the then SHO was asked to rush to the spot. He said, ” why go while the ground is hot. Let it cool down and we will go then” Same here?
This is unacceptable. Where was one of the biggest army?
the biggest army has created taliban and still backing them.
why will they act.
Its hard to beleive no body showed up for hours, whatever the reason we have to decide what are we going to do about it. They have destroyed and corrupted our religion are killing us every day and we act like we have a choice but to cut this tumour off. we owe it to our children . whatever the cast lets not be confused its very simple , a country of almost 200 million is being kept hostage by a bunch of thugs, any other solution is just wishful thinking.
Salute to our Shaheed troops. But a logical point is that why they could not get backup force???? Terrorists remained there for three hours and in this long time none of them should have been escaped. If our security forces can not protect their own fellows how can we feel safe? It seems that there is no coordination between army,FC and Police. A really sad incident.
the soldiers this morning even with the bravity repulsed the attack of militants.We are proud of our army and all forces of Pakistan.It would be mighty of ALLAH that before reaching here all would be captured or surrounded to expose their shapes to every single man pf Pakistan to be alert the public for every single reaction of the opponents.
Shameful! In the three hour gun battle, the so called brave and glorious troops of the Pakistan Army and Frontier Constabulary were no where to be found? What about Police backup? Mattani is between Peshawer and Kohat, and reinforcements could have been brought from either Peshawer, Kohat, or even Nowshera. It is shameful that we let our own troops die in battle simply because the leadership is too busy playing golf and building mansions using public funds!
300 militants with guns seems a lot, but how many soldiers are in the Pakistan Army?
Iam guessing more than 300.
They have no paratroops to send?
I took it personally when Condi Rice termed Pakistan a” Failed State”, now it has become one.
Three hours battle on the main Kohat-Peshawer road, 20 kms from the city????? No reinforcements, No help??? No wireless messages, No cell phone calls???? There is something NOT right here!!! This should send a lot of heads rolling or there is another story behind all this???
Seems something fishy fishy
Three heads rolled, apparently
What was the reaction of securty forces in three hours gun battle? Where they are heavily deployed in Dara adam Khel & Peshawar few mile away from Post .
Taliban are not against education it seems that you watch too much CNN and BBC
You must know that CNN and BBC are still more reliable than Pakistani news media. It seems to you the other way, because of your prejudice. You are the only person that I am hearing from that Taliban are not against education. If they are not, why did they attack young girl, Malala?
Marium u seems to be out of news for a very long time……… Kindly think before you post…… and also study the incident of Malala. hope that will change your opinion
Yes, you are right. I found that out too. Amazing what people can be made to believe. They seem not to realize how their minds are being influenced and molded.
Mariam jan, If Taliban are not against specialy female education, (1) who has blowen up thousands schools (2) Why Malala was shot in head, Taliban reason for shooting Malala was, let me quote you (Taliban said it was according to sharia) If it was up to Taliban you would have not been able to read and write.
Marium if they are so good why dont you leave and settle in Afghanistan.?
why not North Waziristan?
Try to open a girl’s school in the Taliban controlled area. Just try It? Then you will get your answer.
Was it a joke?
This is the double game played by our military . They are masterminding all operations and activities. They are in full control of the Taliban networks and their exercises.
And of course you can prove that! Please give us credible references for your twisted Logic!
We will never learn and history in Pakistan repeats, repeats and repeats.
One way or the other. There should be decisive fight and army should kill everyone of these bandits as many as possible. .And all madrassas should be closed and children sent home.
Madrassas never creates terrorists. Its foreign elements who are deteriorating the situation here.
Let’s go to North Wazistan for operation for US and let our people in cities insecure….what a shame for three hours no one bothered even to come for help. Looks like everything is planed to find excuse for N.Wazistan’s operation for another heavy dollers downpour! Our people are very naive!
I fail to understand if gun fight continued for 3 hours where was the back-up , rangers , military and other security agencies . Pakistan is among those countries who spent more money on defense and security than on education and this incident has shaken the confidence of every Pakistani. It is time for our military and govt to work together to rescue Pakistan with increasing terrorism .
pakistan spend more money on defence than on education,thats the reason for the present day mess
i agree with you 100%. we need to educate our people so there will be no bloodshed.
And the funny thing is that after spending more money on defense than education we are more insecure than ever before.
It puzzle the mind that why not backup forces were called in to come to rescue of poorly equipped police force. This is not the first time that such an attack by Taliban has taken place with heavy casualties on Pakistan side while our security apparatus remained dormant. Why can’t proactive steps are taken instead of just issuing statements post the tragic events. People at the helm of affairs, on the contrary, have ringed -fenced their respective security and in the process left poorly armed and equipped police forces at the mercy of barbaric Taliban.
Morale among the police forces is low. The Taliban believe they will win, and the police forces (at this point in time) do to. They are fighting a lost cause, so why should they risk their necks?
They should be given high tech police weapons. Don’t spend all the money on
jet fighters.
In a judo match, if the match is a draw, tie break points are awarded for “fighting spirit”. The Taliban have the fighting spirit.
In short………..”We are all fed up of this present government”. Full stop!
Pakistani government should send these injured police to Great Britain for treatment
I second your comments Ms. Jan
you can count on west man
And they should also regard murderers as our national hero
3 hours and closer to Peshawar???? Why we left brave policemen & FC people alone for three hours? why taliban escaped?? whats going on???
It just reminds me Bannu jail break. That jail is center of city, militants came after crossing several checkposts, performed activity for around 4 hours and gone back … they are around 300 attackers. Do you think it is possible?
It reminds me of Salala, when our forces were repeatedly attacked for hours and air force was nowhere to be found.
It reminded everyone of the Bannu jail break.
The difference is the militants launched this assault in order to intimidate law enforcement because they are arrogant people. They want to show Pakistan who is in charge. The believe they are invincible.
gunbattle for 3 hours… where was our paramiitary?
The same place our air force was during 2 hour Salala kills.
How much more lives must be lost before the state swings into action? What are we waiting for? Why can’t we go all out against these beasts who are beheading our security personnel time and again?
“How much more lives must be lost before the state swings into action?”
.
Spoken like a real war hero. An experienced general perhaps?
How many lives you got, to lose? Are you willing to die for your cause?
BTW when you attack your own people in their homes at the behest of others than you will be attacked in your homes from Peshawar to Karachi…your infra-structure will be dismantled piece by piece.
You don’t fight and kill and run your brother’s blood at your ‘friends’ call. You remove his hurt and he will balm your wounds. You talk, as one smart one among you has offered…vote with your mind and get on the right path. Your own, not the one someone else wants you to go on.
Someone with the name “think rationally” that supports cooperation with the Taliban. Hilarious. You don’t cooperate with thugs and murderers that specifically target chuldren. Period. As bad as some in Pakistan may believe the US to be, they do not put children on “hit lists”. It’s time to take responsibility for the well being of your own country and realize no modern nation can operate with an armed group inside that wishes to install its own leaders and its own laws.
Oh common guys. He has a very rationale point. You’ve got to read in between the lines. 2 thumbs up.
Are you joking? The Pakistani state never swings into action, and you know that.
Coz, India, US & Israel are the real threat to Pakistan and these TTP is actually helping them.
And of course you can prove that TTP is working for US/INDIA/ISRAEL!
and where was the government and military to support the poorly equipped police, who pay their lives for the safety of the citizens.
The Pakistan Army needs to take over law enforcement and augment the police agencies.. That is Pakistan’s greatest need right now – peace and security.
only malala goes to uk becos she can speak against taliban and her case will be highlighted to avenge taliban and make taliban look bad .west does not care about pakistanis .west only cares about there own intrests.
as long as pak corrupt rulers are taking dollars from us for the blood of there people west need not worry about pakistanis.
Oh, so it is all a conspiracy to make the Taliban look bad!? Like a conspiracy to make cow dung smell bad?
This is the attitude that made your life in misery. Person like made country to ransom to those thugs by believing spreading the conspiracy theories across the vast population. You people are actually running away from the fact. You should be ashamed of being you.
Government must establish its writ at all cost no matter what.
I suppose they can do that from England.
I wonder how many of these injured brave soldiers will be sent to UK for good treatment.
There is no reply for ur question to any one in this country….
The same thought here…but they have no propogana value.
Stop being cynical, face the realities of life.
Rehman Malick talks a lot but does nothing. He should be put in the front line against the Talibans.
rahman mallik maybe inefficient, but he has not created taliban.
ask the people who created and are still backing them .
Our karo agar magar….
Pakistan society must rise as one people to defeat extremism and terrorism to promote secularism and democracy. For this, it is must all federating units are treated as equals and their sense of deprivation be removed.
scrap all the laws which divide society. make mullah and other religious head unimportant and dont bring them in main news.. make religion as a personal thing..What i am seeing in Pakistan everything is related to religion..so that aspect needs to be suppressed and talk about merit of matter. Transparency is other key..bring that..
Islam is everything to a devout Muslim, but it is not everything because it cannot run a country.
Everybody’s comments sound like wishfull thinking; nobody is ready to act. Why is it so difficult to replace this government?
“Moral Courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent
characteristic in men”.
— General George S. Patton