LAKKI MARWAT: A joint operation of the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Lakki Marwat Police resulted in the killing of a notorious terrorist commander, named Barkatullah (also known as Barkati or Abu Zar), during an encounter. The operation took place in the area of Wanda Amir Khan located on the outskirts of Lakki Marwat.
Police spokesperson stated that Barkatullah had been the infamous leader and mediator of the radical groups in the region and was a former Levies force member and was using several pseudonyms. He was wanted for his participation in over 10 major criminal cases, among them were killings, assaults on police and security forces, extortion, and bombings, including IED blasts.
The operation started after CTD and Lakki Police, along with local peace committees, initiated a search in Wanda Amir Khan. During the op, Barkatullah and his armed companions made a direct assault on the police.
In the battle that followed, Barkatullah sustained fatal injuries and his corpse, along with firearms, was reclaimed after an extensive search. However, his accomplices escaped through the difficult terrain of the area. Police have doubled their efforts to catch them.
Barkatullah was responsible for the murder of many policemen, such as Constable Hafiz Zeenatullah, Constable Samehullah, and Asadullah, and also for the murder of ex-Levies officer Hidayatullah. His death is seen as a major setback for the insurgent networks in the region.
While talking about the operation’s success, the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Bannu, Sajjad Khan, was largely praising the efforts in the fields of CTD, Lakki Police, and neighbourhood peace committees and made it clear that such operations are more likely to be very harmful to the militants from now on since the police are getting more and more skills and confidence.
