By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
LAKKI MARWAT: At least 18 people, including five police officers, were injured in Takhti Khel, Lakki Marwat, following a series of coordinated attacks carried out using quadcopters, police sources confirmed.
The assaults, which targeted a local mosque and nearby residential areas, left women, children, and elderly residents among the wounded, prompting a swift emergency response. Hospitals in the area, including Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Naurang and the District Headquarters Hospital, were put on high alert, with the most critical cases transferred to Bannu for advanced treatment.
Authorities said a joint operation by local police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and community peace committees successfully neutralized six militants from the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including senior commander Maulvi Nusrat Jani Khel. One civilian also lost their life during the operation.
Police reported that several militants were injured during the ensuing clashes, and that some police armored vehicles sustained damage. Reinforcements and additional armored vehicles were dispatched from Bannu to support the operation. The offensive was personally overseen by DIG Bannu Region Sajjad Khan and DPO Lakki Marwat, who coordinated efforts to establish a full cordon around Takhti Khel.
Authorities conducted comprehensive search and clearance operations to ensure that remaining militants and anti-peace elements were located and neutralized. DIG Sajjad Khan stressed that safeguarding public safety remained the top priority, vowing that law enforcement would continue to take decisive action against militant elements. “We will not allow terrorists to disrupt the peace of our communities,” he said, highlighting the determination of security forces to maintain law and order.
The attacks in Takhti Khel have once again underlined the persistent threat posed by militant groups in the region, while also drawing attention to the growing use of drone technology in attacks on civilian and security targets. Local residents described the scene as terrifying, with explosions and gunfire leaving a lasting impact on the community’s sense of security. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with ongoing operations as the security crackdown continues.
