Funeral prayers for police personnel martyred in a militant attack on the Khazina Banda police checkpost in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district were offered with full state honours at the Hangu Police Lines on Thursday.

Senior police officials, including Police Training College Hangu Commandant Shaukat Abbas and Deputy Commissioner Basir Ali Rehman, attended the funeral along with a large number of police personnel, civil administration officials and local dignitaries.

Floral wreaths were laid on the coffins of the fallen officers, who were honoured for their sacrifices.

Following the funeral prayers, the bodies of the martyrs were sent to their native towns for burial with full official honours.

According to District Police Officer Tariq Habib, 11 police personnel, including DSP City Diyar Khan, embraced martyrdom in a cowardly attack by militants belonging to Fitna Al Khawarij on the Khazina Banda checkpost.

The attack began with the use of a quadcopter before militants laid siege to the checkpost, where police personnel put up a fierce resistance and continued fighting until their last breath.

After receiving reports of the assault, DSP Diyar Khan led reinforcements comprising Elite Force, Rapid Response Force (RRF) and Al Barq Force personnel towards the checkpost.

However, the convoy was ambushed near the Khazina Banda bridge, where militants opened indiscriminate fire.

Despite the surprise attack, police personnel retaliated and fought the attackers while attempting to reinforce the besieged checkpost.

The DPO said 28 police personnel were injured in the attack and subsequent engagements.

The injured included DSP Mujahid Hussain and 23 other personnel hurt, while five policemen were wounded during the direct assault on the Khazina Banda checkpost.

Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed said security forces launched an effective counter-operation in response to the attack, claiming that between 12 and 15 militants were killed.

Earlier official reports had put the militant death toll at eight, with six others wounded.

Police officials said the attackers reportedly carried away their dead and injured towards the Zargari area.