Armed attackers ambushed a police party in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, leaving at least 12 personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), critically injured, police said. The team was heading to carry out an operation against illegal gold mining.
The incident took place in the Darbokach area, under the jurisdiction of Gumbat police station between Kohat and Karak, according to the provincial police spokesperson. Police also said they feared further casualties.
Injured officers moved to hospital in Kohat
The 12 wounded officers were taken to hospital, and an emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital in Kohat. Police said the mining operation targeted activity allegedly run through a nexus between terrorists and criminal elements.
A police statement said initial reports pointed to members of Fitna al-Khawarij, allegedly acting in connivance with criminals, as the ambushers. Fresh police and security contingents then reached the scene, and an exchange of fire broke out. Police said several militants were killed in the gunbattle.
Pursuit continues as rescue teams report possible deaths
Kohat District Police Officer (DPO) said the pursuit of the attackers was still under way. He vowed that the operation would persist until no militants remained in the area.
Jawad Afridi, the Rescue 1122 spokesperson for Kohat, said rescue teams had moved the 12 injured personnel to hospital. He said police present at the scene had reported around 11 bodies lying there, although rescue teams had not yet independently confirmed the figure.
Afridi said ambulances had been dispatched to the remote location, and rescuers were working to reach the site. He added that the confirmed death toll would be shared once teams arrived and verified the number of bodies.
