At least 12 Pakistani police personnel killed in militant ambush in Kohat
By The South Asia Times
KOHAT, Pakistan - At least 12 police personnel, including a deputy superintendent of police, were killed and several others injured when militants ambushed a police team in Kohat district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to preliminary reports.
The attack took place in the Darbokach area within the jurisdiction of Gambat police station, as the personnel were returning from a gold-mining site where police had earlier conducted an operation against illegal mining activities.
Those reportedly killed included Gambat Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Haider Zaman and Sub-Inspector Mukhtiar, according to Rescue 1122.
Initial accounts put the death toll at 10, while subsequent reports indicated that at least 12 police personnel had been killed. The casualty figures have not yet been officially confirmed by police.
Police officials said at least 11 personnel were injured who were shifted to hospital for treatment.
Following the ambush, additional police and security personnel reached the area, where an exchange of fire with the attackers was still underway.
In a statement, police said they had launched a large-scale operation against illegal gold mining allegedly involving militants and criminal elements. They said several militants had been killed during the operation and that the search and pursuit would continue.
Kohat is located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province that has experienced repeated militant attacks targeting police and security personnel.
