(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) GHALLANAI: Two polio workers were killed and three others were kidnapped in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency on Saturday.
Sources in the political administration said terrorists attacked a team of seven polio workers in Safi tehsil during which two workers died, three went missing and two managed to escape unhurt and reached Ghallanai, the main town of Mohmand Agency. The slain workers were identified as Salahuddin and Wajid.
The security forces launched a search operation in the area after the incident.
Polio workers in Pakistan are under attack from terrorists as they believe that the foreign powers are pursuing their agenda inside Pakistan in the garb of vaccination campaigns. The militants intensified their propaganda and attacks on polio workers after one such fake campaign was used by the US to grab al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad.
Attacks on polio workers reduced significantly during recent times due to effective awareness campaigns by the government and non-governmental organisations, but still the polio workers carry out campaigns in Pakistan under security cover over fear of attacks.
Two months ago, two polio workers were shot dead in a similar attack in Quetta.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are only two countries in the world where polio has been categorised as endemic viral infection. Vaccination efforts in both these countries are often hampered due to refusal of parents or threats from militants.
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