Twelve Policemen Injured in Militant Firing on Police Party in Kohat’s Gumbat

KOHAT: Militants opened fire on a police party engaged in an operation against illegal gold mining in the Derbu Kuch area of Gumbat tehsil. Rescue 1122 has confirmed that 12 personnel were injured.

In an earlier statement, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police had reported that eight personnel were injured and warned that some deaths were feared. Police said fresh teams from the police and security forces had reached the site and an exchange of fire was continuing.

Javed Afridi, spokesperson for Rescue 1122 Kohat, said about 12 injured personnel had been taken to hospital. He said the wounded had told rescuers that some officers’ bodies were lying at the scene, but reaching the location was taking time because of the rugged terrain. Details will be released once deaths are confirmed. No official figure for fatalities has been given so far.

Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi strongly condemned the attack and expressed grief over the deaths of some personnel. He has called for a detailed report from police officials and said those responsible must be brought to justice.

According to BBC Urdu, Derbu Kuch is a hill village about 40 kilometres from Gumbat tehsil, a journey of two to two and a half hours from Kohat. Local residents say gold is panned for along the banks of the River Indus there, and clashes between local groups and police raids have taken place in the past.