SWAT: Two police personnel and security guard of a private bank embraced martyrdom on Thursday in a “targeted-killing” incident in Mingora, the main town of Swat district.
The police confirmed the incident that three unidentified armed men attacked the policemen when they were on routine patrol in MIngora City. It is yet to be ascertained whether the killing took place due to enmity or it was a terrorism incident.
Additional SP Swat, Farmanullah and DSP Saidu Sharif circle, Attaullah Khan told the media that two police personnel – Umara Khan and Ashraf Ali, of Mingora Police, were on routine patrol near Mingora vegetable market on Thursday morning.
In the meanwhile, armed men opened fire on them, leading to the martyrdom of both the policemen instantly due head wounds while security guard of a private bank, identified as Musa Khan, a resident of Sangota area, was seriously injured, they stated. They said dead bodies and the injured guard were shifted to Saidu Sharif Hospital, where Musa Khan also succumbed to his injuries.
Following the incident, relatives of the policemen staged a protest by placing the dead bodies on Saidu Sharif Road, demanding arrest of the accused. However, later on the assurance by the police authorities and the administration, the protesters dispersed.
The family members of the martyred police personnel and the local people started protest by placing the dead bodies on Saidu Sharif Road and later took the bodies to Courts Chowk and staged a sit-in.
The protesters reacted strongly to the deteriorating law and order situation and demanded immediate arrest of the accused involved in the target killing of police personnel.
Police officials and administrative officers held talks with the protesters and assurance the protestors ended the protest.
Police officials said that the CCTV footage of the accused firing on the police personnel and later escaping in Mingora city has been traced. In the CCTV footage, it can be seen that three suspects suddenly attacked the police party and after the incident, ran away towards the street in nearby market.
According to the police, investigation teams are chasing the attackers with the help of CCTV footages at different places of the area.
The two police personnel who were martyred by firing belong to the same area of Amankot. 35-year-old Umara Khan and 34-year-old Ashraf Ali were recruited in the Special Police Force (Community Police) on the same day on December 29, 2009, on a monthly basis. Both became part of the regular police force simultaneously on May 6, 2020. The two friendly officers were posted at Mingora police station and were on patrol together when unknown persons killed them together.
According to the police, an FIR of the target killing incident in Mingora was registered at the CTD police station in Kabal against unknown armed persons, which includes Anti-Terrorism provisions including murder and attempted murder.
The funeral prayers of the martyred police personnel Umara Khan and Ashraf Ali were performed at Police Lines in Kabal. Police, Army and civil officials including RPO Malakand Division Nasir Mahmood Satti, Brigadier Sajid Akbar, DPO Swat Shafiullah Gandapur participated in the funeral prayer.
The funeral of both the cops was also performed in the native area of Amankot. Later, they were buried in the local cemetery with police honors. A well-armed contingent of police gave salute to the coffins of the martyrs.
Meanwhile, the District Bar Association Swat has announced boycott of courts against the target killing of two policemen and the on Friday (today).
On the other hand, Adviser to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs, Engineer Amir Muqam expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of two police constables and Musa Khan, the cousin of the well-known political and social figure Ajab Khan (Manager).
