Two police officers were martyred and another was injured when unidentified armed men opened fire on a police team heading for polio vaccination security duty in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohmand district. In a separate incident, four polio workers were reportedly kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Tank district.
MOHMAND: Two police personnel lost their lives and another sustained injuries after unidentified attackers opened fire on a police team assigned to provide security during an ongoing polio vaccination campaign in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to police, the incident occurred in the Tamanzai area of Pindiali tehsil in Mohmand district, where armed men targeted police officers while they were traveling to their assigned security duties.
The officers were reportedly heading to provide protection to polio vaccination teams when the attackers opened fire.
As a result of the shooting, two police constables, identified as Zahoor and Fazal, were martyred at the scene, while another officer, identified as Sabir, sustained injuries.
Following the attack, rescue teams rushed to the location and shifted the injured officer to a nearby hospital, where he was receiving medical treatment.
Police said the attackers had not been identified in the initial reports, and further details regarding their identities and motives were not immediately available.
The attack has once again highlighted the security challenges faced by police personnel and healthcare workers involved in polio eradication campaigns in certain parts of Pakistan.
Four Polio Workers Kidnapped in Tank District
In a separate incident, four polio vaccination workers were reportedly abducted by unidentified armed men in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to police, the kidnapping took place in Jios village, located in Union Council Sheikh Attar.
Unidentified gunmen reportedly abducted the four polio workers, raising concerns about the safety of vaccination teams operating in the area.
Police confirmed that an investigation had been launched to identify those responsible and determine the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping.
At the time of the initial report, no confirmed information had been released regarding the whereabouts or recovery of the kidnapped workers.
Authorities had also not provided further details about the identities of the abducted individuals.
Security Concerns Surrounding Polio Vaccination Campaigns
The attack in Mohmand and the kidnapping in Tank have raised fresh concerns about the safety of polio vaccination teams and the police officers assigned to protect them.
Pakistan continues to conduct polio vaccination campaigns to protect children from the disease and prevent the spread of the poliovirus.
During these campaigns, healthcare workers visit communities and households to administer polio vaccine drops, particularly to children under five years of age.
Police personnel are deployed in several areas to provide security to vaccination teams and help ensure that immunization activities can continue safely.
However, security threats in certain districts have created difficulties for both healthcare workers and law enforcement personnel.
The latest attack in Mohmand resulted in the deaths of two police officers who were performing duties connected to the vaccination campaign.
Meanwhile, the kidnapping of four polio workers in Tank has added to concerns about the risks faced by frontline vaccination staff.
Investigations Underway Following the Incidents
Police have initiated an investigation into the kidnapping of four polio workers in Tank, while details regarding the identities of the attackers involved in the Mohmand shooting remain unclear.
The incidents have drawn attention to the importance of effective security arrangements for vaccination teams operating in vulnerable areas.
Ensuring the safety of healthcare workers and police personnel remains essential for the successful implementation of polio eradication campaigns across Pakistan.
The latest incidents also underline the challenges authorities face in maintaining security while continuing efforts to protect children against polio.
Further updates are awaited regarding the injured police officer, the investigation into the Mohmand attack, and efforts to locate the kidnapped polio workers.