Militant Behind Attack on Polio Team Killed in Police Operation in Nowshera

Nowshera — Police announced on Sunday that the third militant involved in the attack on a polio monitoring team in the Nizam Pur area has been killed during an intense exchange of fire. Officials identified the slain attacker as Sami, the son of Mirbaz, who had fled after the initial encounter.

Authorities reported that the militants had targeted a police constable assigned to protect the polio vaccination team. The constable was martyred during the incident, which occurred amid a three-day polio drive as teams were moving door-to-door to administer drops to children.

Following the attack, police launched a widespread search operation across the area. Within the first 48 hours, two militants were killed in separate encounters, while the third fugitive remained at large. Police now confirm that the remaining militant was traced to the rugged mountainous belt surrounding Nizam Pur and was killed during a specialized police operation.

Why Polio Teams Are Targeted

Polio vaccination teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced repeated militant attacks for years. These groups attempt to disrupt Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts, even as the country remains among the few where the poliovirus is still present. Thousands of police personnel are deployed during every campaign to safeguard frontline health workers.

Officials described the recent attack as a direct threat to public health and reaffirmed that security measures will be further strengthened to ensure uninterrupted vaccination drives. Police have also begun investigating the wider network supporting the attackers, noting that additional suspects may be linked to the assault.