Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Friday – In a disturbing turn of events, a polio programme official and a policeman sustained injuries on Friday when unknown assailants opened fire on their vehicle in the Tarkhoo area of Mamond Tehsil, Bajaur district.
The targeted official, Dr Abdul Rehman, served as the coordinator of the polio immunisation programme in Bajaur. The incident occurred as he was returning from the District Headquarters Hospital Khar. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Mamond Police Station, Dilawar Khan, confirmed the attack, highlighting the escalating threats faced by those involved in the crucial polio eradication efforts.
Rescue 1122’s Media Coordinator Ibraheem Khan reported that emergency response teams provided immediate medical aid to the injured victims and subsequently transported them to District Headquarters Hospitals in critical condition.
This incident follows a recent bombing in the Bajaur tribal district, where two individuals were injured by a roadside bomb targeting a vehicle. Earlier in January, a tragic bomb attack on a police vehicle in the Billoot area of Mamond Tehsil resulted in the death of seven policemen on polio duty, with more than 20 others sustaining injuries.
A concerning report reveals that since 2012, a total of 109 people have lost their lives in polio-related incidents, while 162 individuals, including policemen and polio workers, have been injured during this period. Kidnappings during vaccination drives have also been reported, with 13 individuals abducted. The comprehensive statistics indicate that the total number of casualties stands at 284, comprising 166 policemen, 87 health workers, and 31 civilians, with a gender breakdown of 255 men and 29 women.
These attacks underscore the persistent challenges faced by healthcare and law enforcement professionals working towards the eradication of polio in the region, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect those dedicated to public health initiatives.
