PESHAWAR: Three policemen were martyred in an attack in the Akora Khattak area of Nowshera district on Saturday, police and rescue sources have said.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the militant outfit said its fighters had ambushed the police van.

A police spokesperson told Dawn attackers opened fire at a police van near Sariya Khel police checkpoint.

According to Rescue 1122, the martyred cops were identified as Manzoor, who was Akora Khattak police station moharir; constable Amanullah and mobile driver Ayaz.

KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan condemned the incident and sought a report from KP police chief.

The attack came a few days after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government and asked its combatants to carry out attacks across the country.

This was also the second attack on police in less than a month in KP. On Nov 16, six cops were martyred when their van came under gunfire in Lakki Marwat.

‘Militant’ killed

Separately, an alleged militant commander was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the Shewa area of North Waziristan, the military’s media wing has said.

The ISPR identified the dece­ased as Muhammad Noor alias Sarakai, who was a ‘notorious militant commander’ involved in attacks on security forces and kidnapping for ransom. He was also wanted by the police’s Counter Terrorism Department.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from his possession, the ISPR added.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2022