Powerful blast kills 3 policemen including officer

Three policemen including ASI Gul Alam were killed in a powerful blast near a police vehicle in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The blast took place in the Poniala area adjacent to Dera Ismail (DI) Khan in the province on Wednesday (December 3).
The central government immediately condemned the incident and security forces took swift retaliatory action. Police said the blast took place very close to a patrol vehicle. As a result, the vehicle was severely damaged and ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq and Constable Sakhi Jan were martyred.
Law enforcement agencies immediately cordoned off the scene. A large number of police forces and rescue workers have reached the spot. The incident is believed to be related to militant activities and evidence collection has been started for investigation.
Naqvi and Afridi condemn
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Union Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly condemned the attack on police personnel in DI Khan by ‘Fitna-ul-Khawarij’. He expressed deep condolences to the families of the martyrs. Mohsin Naqvi said the bravery of the martyred policemen is a symbol of the unwavering resolve of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police; their sacrifice will be ‘forever remembered’.
The interior minister also said that the people of the country stand by the families of the martyrs and deeply respect their service. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also condemned the blast targeting a police patrol vehicle. He expressed deep grief and said that ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq and Driver Sakhi Jan are the pride of the nation. They sacrificed their lives for the country.
The Chief Minister said that despite having a limited number of members, our police are fighting on the front lines against terrorism. Such cowardly attacks will not be able to keep the nation down. Promising that the attackers would be brought to justice, Sohail Afridi said the blood of martyrs would not go in vain and the fight against terrorism would continue with greater determination.
Attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu earlier in the day
Just a day earlier, two more policemen were martyred in separate attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu. A blast targeting a police patrol in Lakki Marwa left one martyred and three injured. And in Bannu, unidentified attackers martyred another policeman. Police said a search operation was underway to trace the attackers.
Source: Express Tribune