Three police personnel were martyred and several others injured after security forces repelled a coordinated three-pronged terrorist attack during a combing operation in Lower Dir, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference at the Lower Dir District Police Office, Hameed said the attack took place during an extensive search-and-strike operation, in which special police teams cleared three valleys.
“At least three cops were martyred, and several others were injured during the terrorist attack that occurred during the combing operation,” the IGP said.
He added that the terrorists suffered heavy losses during the operation, citing eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence collected by police.
“Special teams had inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists, as indicated by eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence available to the police,” Hameed said.
The IGP praised the police personnel for their courage, saying they successfully repelled the assault despite being outnumbered.
He also commended the District Police Officer, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Superintendent of Police, and other officers for rescuing the police party that had been ambushed.
Hameed said the condition of the injured personnel was improving and expressed hope that most would soon be discharged from hospital.