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QUETTA/BANNU/HANGU: A police official was gunned down when unknown armed men opened fire on a polio team in Dera Murad Jamali on Wednesday.
Police officials said the polio team was returning for a lunch break when unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire at the police personnel, killing one constable on the spot.
“A police constable was killed when armed men opened fire on returning police personnel,” SSP Nasirabad Asad Nasar said, adding that members of the polio team remained unharmed in the attack. Officials said the constable sustained multiple bullet injuries, resulting in his instant death. At least 10 bullets of 9mm were fired during the attack. No group has claimed responsibility so far. Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ali Karrar said that despite the incident, the anti-polio campaign will continue as planned.
Meanwhile, unidentified armed men kidnapped three polio workers on Wednesday in the jurisdiction of Township Police Station in Bannu while a cop was injured when armed men attacked a vaccination team in the Hangu district.
According to police, the first incident occurred in Dawar Colony, Jhandokhel, where a polio team from Basic Health Unit (BHU) Ghazi Marjan was administering vaccines to children. The abducted workers were identified as Karimullah, Mushaqatullah and Shahzeb Khan. Police cordoned off the area, launching a search operation. Efforts were underway to recover the kidnapped vaccinators. Police sources said a total of 18 polio teams were deployed in the BHU Ghazi Marjan area.
Following the incident, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Faheem imposed Section 144 till April 20 to maintain law and order.
In another incident, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Hangu, leaving a police constable injured. According to police officials, the incident happened in the Darsamand area of Hangu district. Constable Anas, deployed for the security of polio team, sustained injuries in the attack and was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital.
Police said that the injured constable returned fire during the attack, successfully ensuring the safety of polio vaccination team, which remained unharmed. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Mujahid Hussain stated that a search operation was launched for the attackers. He added that police teams were conducting operations in nearby hilly areas to trace and apprehend the suspects.
