Major among four Army personnel martyred in Upper Dir operation

UPPER DIR: A Major among four personnel of the Pakistan Army laid down their lives during a military operation in Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa , the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release on Wednesday.

Major Ali Salman – who belonged to an intelligence agency – along with his team was leading an anti-terrorism operation in Sherotkai area of Timergara in Upper Dir, conducted on an intelligence tip-off against a terrorist hideout in the area.

One of the two suicide bombers present in the terrorists’ den blew himself when army personnel entered the hideout, the ISPR statement said.

In subsequent exchange of fire, another suicide bomber was killed while a suspected terrorist was also arrested during the operation, the army’s media wing further said.

The martyred officer and other soldiers were identified as Major Ali Salman, Havaldar Ghulam Nazir, Havaldar Akhtar and Sepoy Abdul Karim.

The funeral prayers of the martyred personnel were offered in Peshawar, which were attended by Corps Commander Peshawar, Inspector General (IG) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other top military and civil officials.

Following the funeral prayers, the bodies of the martyred soldiers were sent to their native areas. Two martyred soldiers, Major Ali Salman and Havaldar Akhtar Ali were residents of Lahore.