Policeman Killed, Another Abducted in Separate Attacks in Northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Aug 6: A policeman was shot dead and another abducted in two separate incidents in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, officials said on Thursday. Police said the motive behind both attacks, which took place late Wednesday night, is yet to be established and investigations are underway. In the first incident, Constable Noor Alam of the Special Branch was shot dead by unidentified gunmen while travelling from his home to his duty station in Bannu district. According to police, Alam routinely used the same route to reach work when he was attacked near Masoomabad on the Bannu–Miranshah Road within the jurisdiction of Cantt Police Station. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack. In a separate incident, Constable Irfanullah, a wireless operator posted at Shaheed Mureed Akbar Police Station, was abducted from his native village of Sheikh Awtar in Tank district while he was on leave. District Police Officer, Tank, said a search operation has been launched and efforts are underway to secure the safe recovery of the abducted constable. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident.