Eight released after militants took hostage from PAEC in Lakki – Newspaper

• 3 injured transferred to DHQ; A rescue operation is underway to recover the remaining abductees
• Security forces kill three militants from a TTP-affiliated group; the soldier was martyred, four people were injured in DI Khan’s ambush

LAKKI MARWAT: At least 17 private employees of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) along with the driver were injured. kidnapped by armed militants on Thursday while traveling along the Lakki-Darra Tang road.

A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the kidnapping and said rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident. “Eight workers have recovered so far, including one injured,” the official said.

Another official said that three workers were injured and were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Sources said the private PAEC workers were on their way to the project site in Qaboolkhel area of ​​the district when their private bus was intercepted by armed assailants near Wanda Painda Khan.

The kidnappers took the hostages to an unknown location and then abandoned and set fire to the bus in a forested area along the Kurram River.

Hours after the incident, videos purporting to show the abducted workers appeared on social media, with workers appealing to the government to meet the militants’ demands to secure their release.

Three militants killed

In a related development, police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) killed three terrorists of the Teepu Gull group, an affiliate of the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in a joint operation in the Malang Adda area of ​​Lakki Marwat on Thursday.

Authorities said the operation was launched based on intelligence information about the presence of more than a dozen armed bandits in the area. “As the assault team took position, the militants opened fire, resulting in intense exchange of fire,” the official said.

The terrorists killed in the operation were identified as Shafeeq Nawaz, Muhammad Mujahid alias Jihadyar and Fidaur Rehman alias Anas alias Gul. Officials say Mujahid was a key member of the group of Maulvi Ihsan, alias Channu, while Fida was a close associate of militant commander Maulvi Hikmatullah, alias Hamaas.

The three militants were involved in attacks on law enforcement officers, bomb explosions and other acts of terrorism.

At the scene, a team of officers found three assault rifles, magazines, ammunition and cell phones.

Others managed to escape under the cover of darkness. No law enforcement officers were injured in the operation.

Cases have been registered at the CTD police station in Bannu against the dead and fleeing militants and further investigation is underway.

The soldier was martyred in DI Khan

Meanwhile, a soldier was martyred and four others sustained injuries in a terrorist attack on a security force post in Garah Bakhtiar Morr area of ​​Kulachi Tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan district, sources said on Wednesday evening.

Officials said a convoy returning from Rorri was attacked by armed attackers.

As a result of the attack, one soldier was killed and four were injured.

Heavy contingents of police and security forces, as well as medical teams, were dispatched to the scene.

The area was cordoned off and a search was launched to arrest the attackers.

Muhammad Irfan Mughal of Dera Ismail Khan also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn on January 10, 2025