The operations, carried out jointly by the Police, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), and supporting security units also resulted in the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition.
According to the police spokesperson, the multi pronged offensive was launched after credible intelligence indicated the presence of armed militant groups in the treacherous highlands of Sheri Khel, Pakka Pahar Khel, and Nasar Khel. These areas, known for their labyrinth like terrain, have long served as hideouts for outlawed networks.
In the Lakki Marwat Bannu belt, security personnel engaged militants in intense exchanges of fire lasting several hours. Ten militants were killed, five injured, and one facilitator arrested during the encounters. Authorities recovered seven bodies on-site, while three could not be retrieved due to the harsh topography.
The slain individuals include two notorious commanders Niaz Ali alias Akasha and Abdullah alias Shipon Koi both of whom were on the police’s most wanted list for orchestrating deadly attacks on security forces.
A separate targeted raid in Nasar Khel led to the killing of another wanted militant. Meanwhile, skirmishes also erupted in the Hawed area, where local peace committees assisted police in repelling armed groups attempting to regroup.
One of the most prolonged confrontations occurred in Domel, where militants opened fire on an armored police vehicle. After an eight-hour standoff, six militants including the infamous Commander Rasool alias Commander Aryana were killed. Multiple gunmen were also wounded as security personnel pushed back with unwavering resolve, eventually seizing a sizeable stockpile of weapons.
Inspector General Zulfiqar Hameed emphasized that the province remains committed to purging the land of militancy. He vowed that operations would continue until the very last fragment of this menace is dismantled, reinforcing the government’s stance on an uncompromising crackdown.
In a separate development, authorities thwarted an attempt to blow up the Doughra Bridge on the Bannu Peshawar Road. Under the cover of darkness, militants planted approximately 8 kilograms of explosives beneath the structure. Swift action by the Bomb Disposal Squad rendered the device harmless, averting what officials described as a potentially catastrophic act of sabotage.
Only days earlier, a similar attempt on the same bridge resulted in one militant accidentally being killed while planting explosives.
