Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: A police officer and two alleged militants were killed while three cops including a deputy superintendent of police injured in the gun clash that took place in the limits of Katlang Police Station early Tuesday morning, police sources said.
According to sources, the police conducted an intelligence-based operation at the Katlang police station last night. The source added that Superintendent Police (SP)-Rural Muhammad Ejaz Khan Sherpao and DSP Katlang Nassem Khan headed the police team.
During the search operation in the Zarra Matta locality, an alleged militant Hussain Qadar Yousafzai alias Muhsan Qasar along with his other accomplices were present.
Sources said that an exchange of fire took place between the police and the militants.
SP rural Muhammad Ejaz Khan Sherpho was martyred in the exchange of gun firing while DSP Katlang Naseem Khan and his gunmen constable Mansoor and Saleem were also injured.
The militant Muhsan Qasar and his other accomplices Abbas alias Essa also killed on the spot.
The dead body of martyred SP Ejaz Khan and injured cops were shifted to Mardan Medical Complex (MMC).
The sources said the police and law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a search operation in the area.
Funeral prayer for the slain SP was offered at police line Mardan. RPO Mardan range Muhammad Salman, DPO Najeeb-ul-Rehman, DC Fayaz Khan Sherpho and other officials attended the funeral prayer.
SP Ijaz’s body has been shifted to his native town Sherpao for burial.
Sources added that the Muhsan Qadar group had been operating in the area for a long.
The killed militants were the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan operators’ Haris group, which joined the group in 2011. Before that, they were affiliated with TTP Swat.
Sources added that militant Essa was the brother-in-law of Muhsan Qadeer and both moved to Swat with their families during the tenure of the PTI government.
Sources added that Muhsan Qadar was wanted by security forces and police in more than 21 terrorism cases.
The government had fixed a 7 million price for the head of Muhsan Qadar.
Abbas alias Essa was wanted by police in more than 11 terrorism cases and a 5 million price for his head.
