Two policemen killed in DIKhan attack, TTP claims responsibility

Two policemen killed in DIKhan attack, TTP claims responsibility

By Saleem Mehsud

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Nov 23: Two policemen were killed and seven others injured when armed militants ambushed Draban Police Station with rockets and grenades before dawn on Wednesday.

Police said that assault came in Darbaan Kalan area of D I Khan, a flashpoint for sectarian violence in the northwest as Taliban commanders claimed to have begun initial peace talks with Pakistani authorities.

Police said that around 10-12 militants came to the said police station in a vehicle and motorcycle, attacked the main gate with rocket launcher and then barged into the police station. The armed insurgents opened fire and hurled hand grenades inside the police station.

Police said that taking advantage of the darkness miscreants fled in the same vehicles from the spot. The injured police personnel were shifted to district headquarter hospital while police cordoned off the area and launched search operation. However, no arrest was yet made in the case.

“Some of the attackers were speaking Persian language,” police said.

The Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility of the attack on the police station in DIKhan, saying that TTP strongly denied the reports that the group agreed to a cease fire or was in talks with the government.

Denying media report, TTP spokesman said that ceasefire with Pakistan was not announced through any channel.

A senior Pakistani Taliban commander said Monday the group agreed to a cease-fire a month ago to encourage nascent peace talks with the government. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of issue’s sensitivity.

It is pertinent to be mentioned here that ISPR also Tuesday denied reports about peace negotiations with the TTP, saying that media reports were baseless.