Gunmen killed two lady polio workers

SWABI: Two lady health workers were recently killed when motorcyclists attacked them in Razaar tehsil soon after commencement of a three-day immunisation drive in Swabi district. The health workerswere not accompanied by any law enforcement personnel, as per reports.

Police officials and District Health Officer, Dr Mohammad Tariq said the two vaccinators came under attack in the jurisdiction of Purmuli police station. The assailants who were riding a motorbike escaped from the scene after the ambush.

Officials in the health department said the two vaccinators were attacked on the Mirali-Shewa road. As a result of the assault, Shakeela Naz died on the spot while Ghuncha Begum was injured seriously. Begum was initially taken to the Tehsil Headquar­ters Hospital, Razaar, but was later referred to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, where she passed away.

Health officials said the vaccinators hailed from the Boko and Purmuli villages. A police officer said that security had been provided to the vaccinators in those union councils that had been declared the “most sensitive” by district police. Purmuli was not among the “sensitive” union councils, he added.

“Due to a shortage of staff, they had not been provided security,” said an official in the Purmuli police station. Police have registered a case against unidentified assailants and started an investigation.