One man was killed and 22 people including two policemen were injured in a grenade attack at a police vehicle in the crowded marketplace in Tank district on Friday.
A terrorist was also shot dead in an exchange of fire with police.
District Police Officer (DPO) Tank Waqar Khan told The Express Tribune that two bike riders hurled a hand grenade at a police vehicle but the driver threw it away and in the subsequent explosion he and another constable were injured along with several civilians.
“The attackers managed to escape, but a police rider squad pursued them, resulting in a gunfight between police and terrorists in the crowded marketplace,” he said, adding that one terrorist was killed in the shootout, including a passerby.
“Around 20 passersby have been injured in the exchange of firing as well as grenade explosion,” added the DPO.
The injured policemen have been identified as Driver Afnan and Constable Jamil. The slain terrorist has been identified as Umair, a resident of Kari Haider.
All the injured were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Tank where there condition is stated to be stable.
The explosion and gunfight crowded market caused widespread panic in the area.
It may be mentioned here that Tank and adjacent Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and South and North Waziristan districts are among the worst hit in the recent wave of militancy.
In the recent past several policemen on polio security duty were gunned down by terrorists who managed to escape after committing the crime. In Lakki Marwat terrorists have staged deadly attacks at police despite several successful operations against the militants in the area.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2023.
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