KOHAT (The Thursday Times) — At least 12 policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Police Haider Zaman and Gumbat station house officer Ayaz Afridi, were injured on Wednesday when terrorists of Fitna al-Khawarij and criminal elements ambushed a police party during an operation against illegal gold mining in Kohat district, police said.
Earlier in the day a police spokesperson and rescue officials said at least 10 personnel had been martyred. The latest police statement listed the injured and did not confirm any deaths, and the final toll remained unclear.
The ambush took place in the Darbukach area of Gumbat police station, where the operation against illegal gold mining along the Indus was under way. Police said the mining had continued because of a nexus between terrorists and criminals. The attackers set a police vehicle on fire.
Fresh contingents of police and security forces reached the area, and an exchange of fire was under way. The Kohat district police officer said the pursuit would continue until the last terrorist was eliminated. An emergency was declared at the District Headquarters Hospital in Kohat.
Police in the line of fire
Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced a series of attacks in recent months. Security reports presented to the federal cabinet in October found that 73 per cent of attacks recorded in the province this year had targeted police and security personnel.
This story will be updated as officials confirm the casualties.
