KOHAT: Two militants belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan attacked on Monday the offices of the Kohat District Police Officer situated in the premises of district courts.

The assailants used hand grenades and automatic weapons and killed one policeman and injured 13. Both militants, however, were killed in an exchange of fire which lasted about half an hour.

The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. The policeman killed in the attack was identified as Sajidullah.

According to police, two terrorists first lobbed a hand grenade at a place about 50 metres from the district courts’ building in the heavily-guarded Cantonment area, clearing the way to the courts’ main gate.

They hurled another hand grenade on the gate from the car parking area and entered the ‘red zone’ controlled by the army.

The main target of the militants was District Police Officer Saleem Marwat, who remained unhurt.

The militants then reached the DPO office where they were challenged by police and the ensuing exchange of fire left one policeman and two terrorists dead. The attackers were said to be wearing suicide jackets.

After the incident, the area was cordoned off and six unexploded hand grenades found there were defused. Bomb disposal squad personnel checked all 26 offices of judges and cleared them.—Abdul Sami Paracha