A member of the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) was killed while defusing an improvised explosive device (IED) in Khyber-Paktunkhwa’s (K-P) Hassan Khel tehsil on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Muhammad Alam told The Express Tribune that BDS officer Khaista Rahman was attempting to neutralise an IED in the jurisdiction of Hassan Khel Police Station when it exploded, killing him on the spot.

The spokesperson said the IED was placed inside an abandoned police check post in Faqeeri Banar and the BDS officer was attempting to defuse the device following a tip-off received by the police.

Paying tribute to the deceased, Alam said, “He displayed exceptional courage and professionalism, placing the safety of the public above his own while carrying out the dangerous task of defusing the explosive device.”

Outlining the current situation, the spokesperson said the area had been cordoned off, and a heavy police contingent was on the ground.

He also claimed that a police operation was initiated to apprehend the suspects in the case.

Four days ago, six Federal Constabulary personnel embraced martyrdom while confronting terrorists belonging to the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan during an operation in the Hassan Khel area on the outskirts of Peshawar.

State-run Radio Pakistan had confirmed that at least eight terrorists were killed in the retaliatory action.