Security forces kill top TTP commander in Nowshera: Police

DPO says security forces carried out operation in area after receiving tip-off from arrested militants.

NOWSHERA: A top commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was killed in a police encounter in Nowshera on Saturday.

The commander Qari Basit was killed in the Tarkhel area of Nowshera district during a clash between the militants and the security forces, the police officials confirmed.

District Police Officer (DPO) Nowshera Muhammad Hussain Khan, while briefing the media, said that the police acted against the terrorists on intelligence received by the militants who were apprehended earlier.

The clashes had been going on since Friday night and the security forces managed to arrest two other wanted militants during the operation. The Nowshera police had apprehended Saghir alias Abu Saeed and Zamar Gul alias Abu Musa from the Jaloba area in Pabbi.

The DPO informed that the terrorists opened fire at the police as soon as they were confronted. However, in the counter-attack by the police, Basit was killed while his accomplices managed to escape.

“He was wanted in several cases of murder, robbery and terrorism including killing of security persons,” he said.

Basit escaped from Kohat jail in 2007 after he was convicted and imprisoned for 25 years. He then rose to the higher ranks amongst the TTP and targeted a number of police personnel to release the militants in custody, confirmed the DPO.

Sources said that Basit belongs to Kohat and was responsible for the logistic and transfer of funds to the militants.

A kalashnikov and two grenades were recovered from Basit. The DPO said that Basit was also known as Commander Jamaluddin and Janat Gul.