2 polio workers killed, 3 abducted by militants in Pak

Militants today attacked a polio team in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, killing two workers and abducting three others, officials said.

Unidentified militants opened fire on the seven-member polio team comprising seven volunteers in Safi tehsil of Mohmand Agency, officials were quoted as saying by Dawn News.

Two polio workers were shot dead and three others were abducted by the assailants in the Safi tehsil.

Two polio workers managed to escape the attack and reached Ghalanai, the headquarter of the agency, and informed about the incident, the officials said.

Last month, a group of Pakistani polio workers was attacked by a school's administration in Karachi after the team attempted to vaccinate its students against the disease.

Polio workers have faced problems during vaccination drives in many parts of the country, including Karachi where in the past militants have attacked female health workers.

Many extremist groups have spread rumours that the vaccination drives were a front for espionage or a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims.

Pakistan is still among the very few countries, which is yet to be declared polio free country.