Policeman shot dead, another abducted in northwest Pakistan

Unidentified gunmen shot dead a policeman and abducted another in two separate incidents in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in northwest Pakistan, officials said Thursday.

The motive behind both the incidents that occurred late on Wednesday night could not immediately be ascertained and investigations are in progress, police said.

Constable Noor Alam, serving in the Special Branch, was shot dead by the unidentified assailants while on his way from home to duty in Bannu district.

Police said Khan used the same route daily to reach his workplace when he came under attack near Masoomabad on the Bannu-Miranshah Road within the limits of Cantt Police Station.

Soon after, the attackers fled the scene.

Separately, Constable Irfanullah, serving as a wireless operator at Shaheed Mureed Akbar Police Station, was abducted from his native village of Sheikh Awtar in Tank district while he was on leave, police said. A search operation was launched and an investigation into the incident has been initiated, the District Police Officer, Tank, said, adding that efforts are underway to ensure safe recovery of the abducted constable.