• No let-up in attacks on security personnel in D.I. Khan; two injured
• Gunfight continued for over an hour before assailants fled
• Militants failed to demoralise cops, says RPO

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Though significant casualties were averted, militants again struck security personnel in Dera Ismail Khan — their fourth such attack within 48 hours in the district which has increasingly become vulnerable to assaults.

Three provinces — Balo­chi­stan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab — witnessed major terrorist strikes over the past three days in which 17 troops and five civilians lost their lives and at least 24 others, including police personnel, suffered injuries.

At least 10 attackers were killed by security personnel.

Though the overnight attack on the post in the limits of Gul Imam police station in Tank area of D.I. Khan was repelled, it clearly shows that the forces inimical to peace have become active again.

According to a police spokesman, militants stormed the check post with heavy weapons, adding that police prom­ptly retaliated and in an ensuing exchange of fire Constable Waheed Gul received injuries.

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The firing continued for about an hour and a half. The attack was repulsed and the militants fled, police said.

The injured constable was later shifted to the hospital.

District Police Officer (DPO) Iftekhar Ali Shah along with other officials and a contingent of police reached the site and cordoned off the area.

Later, a search operation was carried out in the area to locate suspects.

RPO Dera Nasir Mah­moodisti, who also paid a visit to the area, said that militants wan­ted to demoralise the police force with their cowardly actions, but they failed.

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“I am proud of my forces who are acting like a wall in front of the militants and doing their duty bravely,” he added.

On Sunday evening, another constable sustained injuries in an attack on a post in the Roori area within the limits of Kulachi police station.

Police said an exchange of fire continued for 20 minutes during which attackers used small and heavy weapons. He said Constable Mir Aslam sustained injuries but his condition was out of danger.

Police contingents rushed to the post in order to assist the personnel deployed there, but the attackers managed to flee.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2023