On April 12, 2025, Shangla District Police Officer (DPO) Shah Hassan and his convoy survived an improvised explosive device (IED) attack on Shekolai Road while en route to inspect damage at a police checkpost that had been targeted earlier. Although no officers were harmed, a private vehicle belonging to a Special Branch official sustained damage. The police have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
The attack follows a recent assault on the Shekolai police checkpost by a group of terrorists using heavy weaponry. Seven to nine officers stationed at the post engaged in a four-hour firefight, successfully repelling the attackers, who then fled into the nearby mountains. The checkpost suffered significant damage during the exchange.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police attributed the attack to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), referred to in official statements as “Fitna Al Khawarij.” KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed commended the bravery of the Shangla police personnel and announced cash rewards and appreciation certificates for their efforts.
This incident is part of a broader surge in militant violence across KP and Balochistan since the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. In response, security forces have intensified counter-terrorism operations, including recent actions in Lower Dir and Takwara that resulted in the elimination of multiple militants.