BANNU: Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have killed all the militants who laid siege at the Counter-Terrorism Department’s compound in Bannu.
The forces had launched an operation to free the hostages taken by militants in the compound earlier today. As many as seven officials were also injured in the operation against terrorists.
The operation was conducted by the Special Services Group (SSG) of the Pakistan Army and all hostages were reportedly recovered from the CTD compound.
Sources said clearance operation is now underway at the security facility. Authorities also declared an emergency in all hospitals in the district. Schools have already been shut down in Bannu on the orders of the deputy commissioner.
Earlier, on Sunday, two CTD officials were martyred and many more injured after a militant reportedly overpowered interrogators, snatched an AK-47 rifle and opened fire inside the CTD police station in Bannu.
Security forces surrounded the highly fortified cantonment area, where around 20 fighters from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are holed up after seizing control of the facility.
District Police Officer (DPO) Bannu Dr Iqbal said that the militants had been kept engaged by means of negotiations.
The terrorists were looking to negotiate for safe passage to Afghanistan. However, the situation remained tense as talks with militants yielded no results on Monday.
A senior government official said that the hostages were still being held after a failed operation to free them.
“They want us to provide them safe passage via a ground route or by air. They want to take all the hostages with them and release them later on the Afghan border or inside Afghanistan,” said the DPO.
The law and order situation in KP has gone south over the last few weeks as an increase has been noticed in threats and attacks on security forces as well as high-profile political personalities.
