Incident Near Degree College
Dera Ismail Khan: A police mobile van was targeted in a bomb blast near the Degree College in Panyala, about 50 kilometers from Dera Ismail Khan. The explosion killed three policemen, while one officer survived unharmed.
Victims Identified
Police confirmed that the attack involved a locally‑made explosive device. Those killed were ASI Gul Alam, Constable Rafiq, and driver Sakhi Jan, while Constable Azad Shah escaped without injuries.
Police Response
District Police Officer Sahibzada Sajjad rushed to the site as security forces cordoned off the area. Investigations are underway to determine the nature of the attack and identify those responsible.
Condemnations from Leadership
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid tribute to the slain policemen and expressed condolences to their families. He described the attack as an assault on the nation’s frontline defenders. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi also condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow and emphasizing that police officers continue to fight terrorism despite limited resources.
Local Accounts and Fear
Residents reported the blast occurred on the road leading south toward Paharpur, an area marked by sand dunes. Some accounts suggested gunfire followed the explosion, though this has not been officially confirmed. The incident has spread fear in a region previously spared from militant activity, though crime was common.
Rising Violence in Southern KP
The attack comes amid a surge in violence across southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Just a day earlier, an Assistant Commissioner’s convoy was attacked in Miran Shah, North Waziristan, killing the officer, two policemen, and a civilian. Another incident in Bannu saw a policeman shot dead while heading to duty.