Security personnel in Dera Ismail Khan successfully repelled a late-night militant assault on a police checkpoint in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The intense exchange of fire occurred Saturday, resulting in one constable sustaining injuries during the Dera Ismail Khan attack.

The assailants targeted the Khutti police checkpoint under the cover of darkness, employing heavy weaponry. Law enforcement officials stationed at the post reacted promptly, returning fire and compelling the attackers to retreat from the scene.

Immediate Response and Ongoing Investigation

Following the incident, a substantial contingent of police and Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel, led by SP City Division Murtaza Khan Bangash, quickly arrived to secure the area. The injured constable is currently receiving medical attention at a local hospital.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive search operation across the surrounding locality to locate and apprehend the perpetrators. A Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) team successfully defused hand grenades and explosive materials left behind by the militants, preventing further harm.

Escalating Militant Activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Police forces across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in the southern districts bordering Afghanistan, face a significant increase in militant attacks. Checkpoint assaults, ambushes on patrols, and improvised explosive device (IED) blasts targeting police vehicles have become increasingly common.

Recent months have seen several high-profile incidents. In February, a suicide car bombing and subsequent gunfire at a Bajaur district checkpoint claimed the lives of 11 security personnel and a child. Coordinated assaults on police vehicles in Kohat also resulted in multiple officer fatalities.

Additionally, seven policemen, including a station house officer, died in Lakki Marwat when an IED struck their patrol vehicle. Investigations into the latest Dera Ismail Khan attack are ongoing as authorities work to enhance security measures.

Source: dawn.com