Two officers provide security to polio team killed in targeted attacks in Bajaur

Two police officers providing security to polio vaccination teams were martyred in separate targeted attacks in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Bajaur on Monday.

This was told by District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Khalid Express Pakinomist the first attack took place in the Qila Nazakai area of ​​Salarzai, where Constable Syed Aziz, tasked with protecting a polio team, was shot by unidentified gunmen and died on the spot.

“While authorities were carrying out investigations and search operations after the first attack, another attack took place in Tabei village. Constable Syed Qadir Shah, who was returning from polio duty, was shot in indiscriminate fire and succumbed to his injuries,” he said.

At the Bajaur Police Lines, the bodies of the two officers were laid to rest with funeral prayers attended by Deputy Commissioner Shahid Ali, Pakistan People’s Party President Haji Sher Bahadur, Awami National Party leader Syed Sadiq Akbar, police and security officials and representatives of various communities.

Read more: Police officer martyred, four injured in attack on polio team in KP

Following the attacks, district authorities and police stepped up security across Salarzai and the wider Bajaur district. Search operations are continuing in the affected areas to nab the culprits.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned the attacks and termed the incidents as acts of cowardice and directed the Inspector General of Police to submit a detailed report.

“Targeting government officials serving a national duty is an extremely cowardly act. Terrorists will never succeed in their nefarious intentions,” Afridi said.

He assured the families of the deceased that the provincial government stood with them in their grief and would provide all possible support.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also condemned the attacks, saying they were carried out by forces hostile to the country and humanity, backed by India.

“The terrorist attack that claimed the lives of two police officers is deeply tragic,” he said.

He also praised the bravery of the police personnel and added, “The people of KP are proud of their martyrs and heroes in the police force.”

Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information and Public Relations Shafi Jan described the attacks as “extremely cowardly acts” and condemned the incidents.

Paying tribute to the bravery of the fallen officers, he said, “The sacrifices of the brave police personnel of KP will always be remembered.”

The minister also assured the provincial government’s full support to the families of the deceased.

The incident occurred as the government launched a week-long polio vaccination campaign in 79 high-risk districts across the country, targeting more than 19 million children for polio drops.

Last month, a police officer was martyred and four others were injured when gunmen opened fire on personnel deployed to protect polio vaccination teams in KP’s Hangu. In February, a police officer was also martyred when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in the Roghani area of ​​Chaman.

Polio workers who carry out door-to-door vaccination have often been targeted by militants, especially in KP and Balochistan. In 2024 alone, at least 20 people were killed and 53 injured during anti-polio operations in the province.