Excise officer among three killed in Dera

Express Tribune

6 days ago

Unidentified terrorists gunned down an excise officer and two others in separate incidents of violence in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, officials said on Friday.
According to police, the first incident occurred at Daraban Bypass near Mufti Mehmood Hospital within the limits of Dera Town police station. Excise Sub-Inspector Syed Ali Shah, a resident of Kheshgi, Nowshera, was having breakfast with his assistant Abideen when armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire, killing both men instantly.
Hashim, the owner of the roadside hotel, sustained critical injuries and was rushed to Mufti Mehmood Hospital, where he succumbed during treatment. Police arrived promptly, cordoned off the area, and collected forensic evidence. Officials confirmed that the martyred officer was on duty when targeted.
The funeral prayer of ASI Syed Ali Shah was held at Dera Police Lines with full official honours, attended by senior officials, colleagues, and local dignitaries.
In another incident the same day, terrorists attacked police in Kulachi tehsil. Law enforcement retaliated swiftly, killing one attacker and injuring three others.
DPO Dera Sahibzada Sajjad Ahmad, along with the Elite Force and RRF personnel, led the counter-operation. Kulachi SHO Aslam received minor injuries during the exchange of fire. Security forces have since cordoned off nearby forested areas and launched a search for the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, militants have resurfaced in the Kurram tribal district, where a rocket was fired at Gareeb Imambargah in Boshehra during a Shab-e-Chehlum gathering. The projectile, launched from an unknown location, caused panic among mourners but no casualties were reported until the filing of this report.
Residents in affected areas have urged the government to intensify security operations, curb militant activities, and restore peace.