Accessibility links

Breaking News

Police Officer Killed By Pakistani Taliban After Guarding Polio Vaccination Team


The slain police officer was killed on his way home after his shift had ended guarding a regional polio vaccination team. (file photo)
The slain police officer was killed on his way home after his shift had ended guarding a regional polio vaccination team. (file photo)

The Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility for the killing of a police officer who had taken part in guarding a polio vaccination team, a frequent target of militants in Pakistan.

The officer was shot dead by two militants riding on a motorbike on October 24 in the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan, police told RFE/RL.

He was on his way home after his shift had ended guarding a regional polio vaccination team.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack on October 24 coincided with World Polio Day, which is aimed at consolidating efforts to eradicate the virus.

Militants in Pakistan often target polio teams and security officers assigned to protect them, claiming the vaccination campaigns are a Western plot to sterilize children.

On September 19, a policeman guarding a polio vaccination team was shot dead by militants in the city of Kohat, in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

On August 1, militants killed one policeman and injured another in two separate attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province during a polio vaccination campaign.

Pakistan along with neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where the disease remains endemic.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG