Four police officials, including a station house officer (SHO), were martyred when terrorists attacked a police party during a search operation in Dera Ismail Khan, officials said on Wednesday.
The incident took place in the Wanda Badh area within the limits of Shaheed Nawab Khan police station. According to police, armed militants opened fire on officers engaged in a search operation, triggering an intense exchange of gunfire.
Police sources said the attackers were affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Tipu Gul Marwat group.
SHO Faheem Mumtaz Khan Marwat was martyred in the attack along with constables Irfan Khan, Ghulam Subhani and Wajahat.
DSP Adnan Khan was seriously injured in the clash, while his driver Tariq Khan and two gunmen also sustained injuries. The wounded officials were shifted to a hospital for medical treatment.
Heavy police reinforcements have cordoned off the area and a search operation is under way to track down the assailants.
Authorities said snap checking and search activities in nearby areas have been intensified to prevent the attackers from escaping.