PESHAWAR: A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was among several police personnel martyred in a terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kohat district on Tuesday.
Police said the DSP of Lachi was targeted when his vehicle came under intense gunfire from armed assailants near Shakardara Road. He was martyred on the spot along with his two security guards.
Officials confirmed that multiple police personnel lost their lives in the assault.
Following the attack, additional police contingents were rushed from Kohat to the area, and a search operation was launched to track down those responsible. The site was cordoned off as investigators began collecting evidence.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the attack, paying tribute to the fallen officers for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. He expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the swift recovery of injured personnel.
The governor observed that the law and order situation in KP’s southern districts has worsened in recent months, noting that police are on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and continue to make significant sacrifices. He described the sacrifices of security personnel as a matter of national pride.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a surge in militant violence over the past year. According to the Annual Security Report 2025 issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), fatalities in the province rose sharply from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
On Monday, three Federal Constabulary (FC) personnel were martyred in a separate attack in Karak district. Police spokesperson Shaukat Khan said Rescue 1122 teams responding to the incident were ambushed near Ghole Banda Dam. Three FC men were martyred, while three Rescue 1122 officials were injured. The attackers also set the ambulances on fire.
Last week, an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into a checkpost in Bajaur district, killing 11 security personnel. The military’s media wing reported that an innocent young girl was also martyred in the blast, while seven others, including women and children, sustained injuries.