Policeman killed in attack on polio vaccination team in Swabi

Unknown gunmen attacked a polio immunisation team in Gullu Dheri area of Swabi district on Monday killing a policeman who was escorting the team. The two assailants, who were riding a motorcycle, fled from the area after the attack. SHO of Swabi police station told Dawn.com that the two lady health workers, comprising the anti-polio team, remained unhurt and were sent back to their unit, adding that the anti-polio campaign continued in other parts of the province. The body of the deceased policeman was shifted to the District headquarters Hospital Swabi. Dr Riaz, incharge of the polio campaign said that 538 teams, comprising of 754 lady health workers, were operating for the eradication of the polio virus and that each team was escorted by a policeman. He further said that a meeting would be held with the DCO and DPO to discuss the future of the three-day immunisation campaign which was scheduled from Jan 28 till Jan 30. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this report. Nine polio workers were killed in a string of attacks targeting the immunisation workers across the country in Dec 2012.