Two polio workers abducted during vaccination drive in KP

Peshawar: Two polio workers were abducted by armed men in the Jandola area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Monday during an ongoing anti-polio campaign.

Police identified the victims as Sifatullah, a COMNet staff member, and Hizbullah, a volunteer. The incident occurred while they were performing their vaccination duties.

The district administration strongly condemned the abduction, and a case has been registered against unidentified assailants.

A search operation has been launched to ensure the safe recovery of the kidnapped workers.

Attacks on polio teams remain a serious issue in Pakistan’s tribal regions, particularly in K-P and Balochistan, where health workers and their escorts are often targeted.

In 2024 alone, at least 20 people were killed and 53 injured in such incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those involved in the country's fight to eradicate polio.