In a shocking and tragic incident in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two brothers serving as police officers were brutally murdered, while their third brother remains missing after being abducted during Taraweeh prayers at a local mosque. The attack, which took place in the Hassan Khel Sukri Faqir Kili area, has sent ripples of fear and condemnation throughout the region, highlighting the ongoing security challenges faced by law enforcement personnel in the province.
The three brothers, Saeed Akhtar, Amjad, and Hazratullah, were all government employees dedicated to public service. Saeed Akhtar was employed at the district commissioner’s office, whereas Amjad and Hazratullah were active members of the provincial police force. Their abduction and subsequent killings have raised serious concerns about the safety of government officials and the sanctity of places of worship, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing events, describing how a group of 10 to 12 armed men, dressed in uniforms, forcibly entered the mosque while the congregation was engaged in Taraweeh prayers. The assailants restrained the brothers by tying their hands before abducting them from the premises. This brazen attack inside a sacred space during a religious observance underscores the militants’ blatant disregard for religious and social norms.
Authorities recovered the bodies of Amjad and Hazratullah early Thursday morning near the Marwat Canal area in Bannu. Meanwhile, Saeed Akhtar remains unaccounted for, with security forces intensifying their search efforts. The Bannu Regional Police Office confirmed the abduction and killings, condemning the act as a ruthless violation of the sanctity of Ramadan and the mosque.
In an official statement, police officials emphasized the terrorists’ complete disrespect for the holy month and the sacredness of Taraweeh prayers. They described the killings as a clear manifestation of the militants’ brutality and their anti-Islamic agenda. The police also assured the public that security forces have been fully mobilized to track down the perpetrators and restore peace in the area.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Bannu Region, Sajad Khan, commented on the incident, pointing out that following recent setbacks against security forces, militants have resorted to targeting softer, more vulnerable targets in a desperate and cowardly manner. He stressed that these attacks reveal the militants’ weakening position and vowed that security agencies are intensifying their operations to clamp down on these elements.
This tragic event comes amid a worrying surge in attacks targeting law enforcement personnel across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Over the past two days alone, at least seven police officers and the young son of one officer have lost their lives in separate violent incidents. On Wednesday, four police officers were gunned down in a patrol attack in the Naway Kili area of Bajaur District, just moments before Iftar. The officers, members of the Ababeel Force, were ambushed while riding motorcycles, resulting in two additional injuries and prompting an immediate search operation.
In a related incident, a police officer and his son were fatally shot by unidentified assailants in the Lundi Kotal area of Khyber District. Their funeral prayers were held at the Shakhs Police Lines, marking a somber moment for the local law enforcement community. Authorities have labeled these attacks as cowardly attempts by militants to exploit the ongoing security operations by targeting vulnerable individuals.
The security environment in Bannu and neighboring districts remains tense, with law enforcement agencies maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent further incidents. The recent spate of violence underscores the persistent threats faced by security personnel and the urgent need for sustained counterterrorism efforts to ensure the safety of both officials and civilians in the region.
