A huge explosion occurred in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, in which a total of nine people including four policemen were injured. The incident took place near a fruit and vegetable market on Bannu-DI Khan Road in Serai Naurang town of Lakki Marwat district, where a large crowd was present at that time. This incident created chaos all around.
According to District Police Spokesperson Qudartullah Khan, preliminary investigation has revealed that the attackers had targeted the patrolling team of Shahid Asmatullah Khan Khattak Police Station. The vehicle in which the police team was patrolling was also badly damaged in the blast. Local residents said that nearby shops and parked vehicles were also damaged in the explosion. The explosion also affected power lines in the densely populated area.
According to the police, the attackers had fitted an improvised explosive device (IED) in a motorcycle. As soon as the police van passed by, a blast was carried out. The sound of the explosion was heard far and wide, causing panic in the area. Those injured in the blast include head constable Waheedullah and constables Syed Anwar, Hadiullah and Ikramullah.
Relief and rescue operations were started immediately after the incident. All the injured were admitted to the nearest hospital, where they are undergoing treatment. The condition of some of the injured is said to be serious. Overall, 9 people have been injured in the incident. The other victims have been identified as 16-year-old Fidaullah, 8-year-old Zahidullah, 13-year-old Yasir, 55-year-old Suleman and Mujeeb.
Bannu area police officer Sajjad Khan reached the hospital to inquire about the well being of the injured and instructed the administration to provide the best treatment. He said that such cowardly actions of terrorists cannot weaken the morale of the police. Khan said that the police force is fully alert and prepared. He said that he is committed to foil every conspiracy of the enemies of peace. After the incident, security has been increased in the area and investigative agencies have started searching for the attackers.
The incident comes nearly two weeks after another attack on a police vehicle in Bettani sub-division of Lakki Marwat, in which seven policemen, including an officer, were martyred. Police had said that an IED was also used in that incident, in which a squad of Shadikhel police station was targeted during routine patrolling. Six personnel, including the station house officer and five constables, lost their lives in that attack.
