LAKKI MARWAT: Armed militants abducted at least 17 private employees of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and their driver on Thursday when they were traveling along the Lakki-Darra Tang Road.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior police official confirmed the kidnapping and stated that a rescue effort was started right away. According to the official, “eight workers, including one who was injured, have been recovered so far.”
Three employees were hurt, according to another source, and they were sent to the hospital at the district headquarters.
According to sources, the private PAEC employees were traveling to a project location in the district’s Qaboolkhel area when armed attackers stopped their private coach close to Wanda Painda Khan.
After taking the captives to an unidentified location, the abductors abandoned the bus in a wooded area near the Kurram River and burned it on fire.
Videos allegedly showing the kidnapped workers pleading with the authorities to comply with the militants’ demands in order to ensure their release appeared on social media hours after the incident.
Three militants were slain.
Relatedly, during a combined operation in the Malang Adda neighborhood of Lakki Marwat on Thursday, police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three terrorists from the Teepu Gull gang, which is affiliated with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
According to officials, the operation was started because of information indicating that there were twelve gunmen in the vicinity. “The militants opened fire as the raiding team took position, resulting in a fierce gunfight,” an officer stated.
Shafeeq Nawaz, Muhammad Mujahid, also known as Jihadyar, and Fidaur Rehman, also known as Anas, also known as Gul, were the terrorists slain in the operation. According to officials, Fida was a close aide of militant commander Maulvi Hikmatullah alias Hamaas, while Mujahid was a prominent member of the Maulvi Ihsan alias Channu gang.
The three militants participated in bombings, assaults on law enforcement officers, and other terrorist attacks.
Three assault rifles, magazines, ammunition, and cell phones were found at the location by the raiding party.
Under the shadow of the night, some were able to flee. The operation did not result in any injuries to law enforcement personnel.
At the CTD police station in Bannu, cases have been filed against the militants who were killed and those who were escaping, and additional investigations are being conducted.
D.I. Khan soldier martyred
According to authorities, a terrorist attack on a security forces post in the Garah Bakhtiar Morr region of Kulachi tehsil, Dera Ismail Khan district, on Wednesday night resulted in the martyrdom of one soldier and the injury of four others.
According to officials, armed attackers assaulted a vehicle that was returning from Rorri.
Four troops were injured and one soldier was martyred as a result of the attack.
Medical teams were sent to the scene, along with sizable police and security force contingents.
In order to capture the attackers, the area was roped off and a search was initiated.
