Armed men kidnap Polio supervisor during campaign in Jamrud

PESHAWAR: Unknown armed men have kidnapped a polio campaign supervisor in the Chapri area of Jamrud, triggering a police search operation and security checks along key routes.

According to District Police Officer (DPO) Waqar Ahmed, the victim, identified as Jalil Khan, was abducted while performing his duties during the ongoing anti-polio vaccination campaign. The attackers reportedly took him to an undisclosed location.

The incident has raised concerns over the safety of frontline polio workers, who continue to face security challenges while carrying out vaccination activities in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Following the kidnapping, a heavy police contingent reached the scene and launched efforts to trace the missing supervisor. Security personnel have established checkpoints and blocked important routes in an attempt to prevent the suspects from escaping and secure the victim’s safe recovery.

DPO Waqar Ahmed said police teams were actively working to recover Jalil Khan, while search efforts were continuing across the area. No further details about the identity of the kidnappers or their possible motive were immediately available.

The abduction comes as a seven-day anti-polio campaign has been underway across the district since Tuesday. Vaccination teams are visiting communities to administer polio drops to children and protect them against the potentially paralysing disease.

The incident highlights the security risks faced by health workers involved in Pakistan’s nationwide polio eradication efforts, particularly in areas where vaccination teams require police protection.

Authorities have yet to announce any arrests or confirm the recovery of the kidnapped supervisor.