ISLAMABAD: A police constable was abducted from his home and shot dead by terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district, officials reported, as militant violence surges in Pakistan.
The attack occurred in the Darga forest near Sarai Naurang. The constable, undergoing training in Hangu, was taken from his home on Tuesday night and killed in the forest, said police spokesperson Qudratullah.
His funeral, held with official honors at Lakki Marwat Police Lines, was attended by senior officers and a large police contingent. District Police Officer Nazir Khan praised the constable as a symbol of bravery and sacrifice, adding that such attacks wouldn’t deter their fight against the militant group labeled as Fitna al-Khawarij (the banned TTP).
Operations against the group will continue, Khan assured, vowing to protect citizens and bring perpetrators to justice.
Militancy has risen sharply since the TTP ended its ceasefire in late 2022, intensifying attacks mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Last month, KP’s Counter-Terrorism Department killed three TTP militants in an operation in Dera Ismail Khan, days after separate attacks killed nine people, including seven police officials.
The military recently reported eliminating 11 terrorists in two separate actions in KP, even as militant activity continues. A report highlighted a 34% rise in militant attacks and a 21% increase in fatalities last year despite efforts to curb violence through counterterrorism operations.
