Cop killed, four wounded in attack on polio security team in Pakistan's KP

At least one police officer was killed, and four others were wounded when militants attacked a police vehicle assigned for the protection of a polio vaccination team in Hangu District in Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Irfan Tariq, the regional police officer, said the officers were en route to provide security for polio vaccination teams when militants opened fire near Chapri Waziran, within the jurisdiction of Thall police station.

“Four police officers were injured in the attack, while one constable, Israr-ul-Haq, a resident of Shangla district, was killed,” Tariq said.

According to the regional police officer, the injured officers were identified as Munawar Khan, Mujahid Sharif, Waseem, and Shah Zaman, who were shifted to a hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable.

Tariq said police responded swiftly, engaging the militants in an intense exchange of fire, with initial reports indicating that two attackers were killed. However, the assailants who fled the scene managed to take the bodies of their accomplices with them.

“The terrorists will not be spared under any circumstances,” he said.

He added that security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation, with efforts underway to track down other militants involved in the attack.

Campaign to continue despite attack

He confirmed that the ongoing polio vaccination campaign in Hangu would continue as planned, adding that such militant attacks could not undermine police morale.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attack and sought a report from the inspector general of police on the incident.

He described the targeting of personnel engaged in a national duty as a cowardly act, adding that militants would not succeed in their designs.

According to the Emergency Operations Center, a four-day anti-polio campaign has begun in the province, with a target of vaccinating more than 6.5 million children under the age of five.

Officials said 35,500 polio teams have been formed to carry out the drive, while more than 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure their protection.