Hangu Police Post Attack: Constable Martyred, Three Policemen Abducted

Militants attacked the Shalmas Pir Ziarat police post on Shah Almas Pir Mountain in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district on Sunday night, martyring Constable Feroz Ali and abducting three other policemen, District Police Officer Salahuddin Kundi said on Monday. The attackers took the three men towards Khanano Kot in the Samana mountain range. A heavy contingent of police and security forces rushed to the scene, where an intense exchange of fire followed.

Post retaken, search under way
Police later regained control of the post and launched a pursuit operation against the attackers, the DPO said. A search operation is under way to recover the abducted policemen safely, and security has been placed on high alert across the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Funeral with full honours
The funeral prayers of Constable Feroz Ali were offered with full state honours at the Police Lines in Hangu. DPO Kundi, along with police and security forces officers and personnel, attended the funeral, laid floral wreaths on the coffin and paid tribute to the constable’s sacrifice. After the prayers, his body was taken to his native village of Ibrahimzai.

A pattern of attacks on police in K-P
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen a string of attacks on police in recent months. On October 8, Station House Officer Daud Khan and his gunman Farhad were martyred when gunmen opened fire on a police patrol near the Karak-Kohat boundary. On September 28, three traffic policemen were killed in Tank district, and on September 18 a blast followed by an assault at Kohat Police Lines killed 15 police personnel among 23 people.