Two cops martyred in Hayatabad firing

PESHAWAR: Two cops were martyred when criminals opened fire on a police party during a raid in Hayatabad on Wednesday. The police said the alleged killer as well as his accomplices have been arrested after heavy contingents of the force rushed to the spot. An official said that Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Mohammad Riaz and constable Jafar Ali were martyred when a proclaimed offender opened fire on the police party during a raid in Phase-7 of the posh Hayatabad township. The official said the accused, who opened fire, was identified as Hamza, a resident of Bannu, who had been arrested along with the automatic weapon. The funeral prayers of the deceased cops were offered at the Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines. A smartly turned out contingent of the force presented a salute to the coffin of the martyrs after the funeral.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Moazzam Jah Ansari told reporters after the funeral that the force had been tipped off about the presence of criminals in a house in Phase-7 in Hayatabad.

The police chief said the cops were conducting a raid when the criminals opened fire, resulting in martyrdom of two police officials.

The IGP said the alleged killer as well as his other accomplices had been arrested.

A number of police officials have sacrificed their lives in targetted attacks and other incidents in Peshawar and rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent weeks.

On Monday, ASI Amjad Khan was martyred in Khazana when armed men opened fire on his car when he was coming to office.

Recently, an ASI Imtiaz Khan of the Charsadda police was coming back after hearing in a court in Peshawar when he came under attack by the armed men in the limits of Mathra Police Station.

A few days before that, a traffic police official Mohibullah was shot by attackers in the limits of Mathra Police Station when he was coming back from polio security duty in Nasir Bagh.

Also, an assistant sub-inspector of traffic police Nauman Khan was martyred while going to office from home in Urmar.

Apart from Peshawar, attacks on police have been taking place in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in recent weeks.

The frequent incidents have triggered concern among the locals, particularly policemen. The cops have been directed recently to stay alert while coming to the office or going back home. They were also directed to wear bulletproof jackets and helmets during the duty.