BANNU— Security forces neutralized a terrorist during a fierce gun battle on Friday after militants launched an assault on a police checkpoint in the Bakakhel area of Bannu. The attack, which targeted a facility guarding a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), left one police constable injured.
Clash at Bakakhel Checkpoint
Unidentified militants initiated the assault using automatic weapons, firing upon the security post established for the protection of the Bakakhel IDP camp. Police personnel stationed at the site immediately returned fire, triggering a heavy exchange of gunfire.
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During the engagement, Police Constable Naqeebullah, a resident of Bakakhel, sustained injuries. Emergency responders evacuated him to a nearby medical facility for treatment. Authorities confirmed that security forces shot and killed one attacker during the retaliatory action, recovering weapons and ammunition from the scene. Following the incident, Regional Police Officer (RPO) Sajjad Khan visited the injured constable to monitor his recovery.
Abducted Youth Found Dead Near City Limits
In a separate and grim development, local authorities discovered the body of a young man on Friday morning, less than 24 hours after his abduction.
The victim, identified as Shah Faisal, a resident of Fazal Shah Mitakhel, was forcibly taken by three armed men on Thursday. Witnesses report the assailants arrived in a vehicle and kidnapped Faisal as he exited a barber shop near Milad Park, within the jurisdiction of the City Police Station.
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Police discovered Faisal’s body near a stone-crushing machine in the Khojin area, bearing multiple gunshot wounds. Forensic teams shifted the deceased to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, Bannu, for a postmortem examination.
Investigation and Regional Context
The Bannu police have registered formal cases for both incidents and initiated a high-level investigation to track the suspects involved in the abduction and the checkpoint assault.
These incidents occur amid a period of heightened security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Only weeks prior, in February 2026, the region saw significant escalations, including a suicide attack on a military convoy in Bannu and subsequent cross-border tensions. The Provincial Government continues to maintain a high alert across the district to prevent further insurgent activity.
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