BANNU: Two police constables and a security guard lost their lives in separate gun attacks in Bannu on Monday, underscoring the growing wave of violence in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The first incident unfolded outside a National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) office in the Baka Khel area, where armed assailants opened fire on security staff. Constable Rafiullah and security guard Gul Shah Noor were killed instantly. A heavy police contingent rushed to the scene, but the attackers managed to escape. The victims’ bodies were later shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem examination.
In another attack near the Miryan Kinger police station, unidentified gunmen shot dead Constable Sher Muhammad. Authorities immediately launched a district-wide search operation, setting up checkpoints and intensifying patrols to track down the perpetrators.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the killings, paying tribute to the victims and expressing solidarity with their families. “The people of the province share the grief of the martyrs’ families,” he said. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attacks, praising the bravery of the slain personnel. “Guard Gul Shah Noor and Constable Rafiullah attained the great status of martyrdom while performing their duty,” he remarked, adding that their sacrifice set a high example of courage.
The latest incidents follow a string of deadly assaults on police in the region. On Friday, five people, including women and a child, were martyred in a suicide attack targeting the Domel Police Station. The attacker attempted to ram a vehicle loaded with explosives into the station’s wall but detonated the bomb in a nearby civilian area after failing to breach the compound. Authorities said defensive measures prevented greater damage, though civilian casualties were significant.
Last week, seven people, including three police personnel, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Lakki Marwat’s Sarai Naurang area. The device targeted a police vehicle near a vegetable market. In March, seven police officials, including the station house officer of Shadi Khel Police Station, were killed in another IED explosion in Lakki Marwat. Earlier, two policemen were killed and 15 others injured in a blast in Wana’s Rustam Bazaar.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has borne the brunt of terrorism since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, with militants frequently crossing the border to target police convoys and installations. Official figures show the province recorded the highest number of terrorist incidents in the country last year. Out of 5,397 reported attacks nationwide, K-P accounted for 3,811, followed by Balochistan with 1,557. Only 29 incidents occurred in other provinces. Security forces killed 2,597 terrorists during the same period, but the threat remains persistent.
The surge in violence has placed immense pressure on police personnel, who continue to face ambushes, suicide bombings, and IED attacks. Despite the risks, officials emphasize their commitment to protecting civilians and maintaining law and order.
The martyrdom of Constables Rafiullah and Sher Muhammad, along with security guard Gul Shah Noor, adds to the growing list of sacrifices made by law enforcement in K-P. Their deaths highlight the urgent need for stronger counter-terrorism measures and enhanced protection for frontline officers who remain the primary targets of militant groups.
