NEW DELHI: The death toll from the attack on the police lines headquarters in Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rose to at least 31, with over 100 injured, as military and police forces concluded the 22-hour-long stand-off Saturday noon.What began on Friday as a suicide blast at the compound’s perimeter gate rapidly developed into an active siege after at least seven operatives from the Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen Pakistan (IMP) group breached the counter terrorism department (CTD) and intelligence facilities. In a turn of events, the operatives, once inside, managed to reach the facility’s weapons depot, released many detained terror suspects, and armed some of them to fight the Pakistani personnel, sources said.Despite a large deployment, heavy gunfire was exchanged through Friday night and Saturday morning. A military command with the infantry division was used to direct the Pak govt’s operation, but strong resistance from inside the lockdown zone prolonged the multi-building standoff, leaving scores wounded and critical.
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Among those killed were SP Akbar Shinwari, a deputy SP and Dr Israel Orakzai, head of the pediatrics department at Kohat hospital. A few civilians also died in the exchange of fire.Special Service Group (SSG) Zarrar unit and infantry division had to be pressed into service to end the siege and clear the compound. Khyber Police claimed to have neutralised eight of the attackers. The facility, which has been facilitating establishment of new terror camps in KPK region, was struck Friday afternoon with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), enabling multiple suicide attackers to force their way inside the premises shooting indiscriminately.
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