16 terrorists killed in Orakzai gunfight

At least four soldiers were injured while two seriously wounded terrorists were apprehended


Our Correspondents December 28, 2014

SHABQADAR/ HANGU/ KARACHI: The military claims to have killed at least 16 militants in a ground operation in the Orakzai tribal region in the early hours of Saturday.

Security forces ambushed a large assembly of terrorists on the confluence of borders between Orakzai and Khyber agencies in the Khazana Kandao and Shirin Darra areas, the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

“An intense battle took place, in which 16 terrorists were killed and 20 injured. The fleeing terrorists left behind nine bodies of their accomplices while two seriously wounded terrorists were apprehended,” it said, adding that four soldiers were also injured in the gunfight.

Earlier officials from the military and political administration told a news conference in Hangu city that around 80 terrorists attacked two check posts of the security forces in Shirin Dara and Khazana Kandao areas of Lower Orakzai and Khyber agencies with heavy and light weapons.

The security forces manning the check posts retaliated and in the ensuing two-hour-long gunfight 16 terrorists were killed and 20 injured. The terrorists fled after suffering the casualties, leaving behind bodies of their nine accomplices which were later shown to the media.

The officials identified three of the dead militants as Abdul Aziz and Tehsildar from Mamozai tribe and Muhammad Niaz Mir from Alikhel tribe – all residents of Orakzai Agency.

This was the fifth attack on these check posts since the start of Operation Khyber-I. Around 20 security personnel and over 50 terrorists have been killed in these attacks.

Militants detained in Shabqadar, Karachi

In a related development, the police arrested a key militant commander, Amanullah alias Irfan Khurasani, in the Shabqadar area of Charsadda district on the border with Mohmand Agency. The police were tipped off about the arrival of the militant commander from Mohmand Agency and had set up a picket at PA Road Sro Kali.

DIG Mardan Saeed Khan Wazir said Amanullah belongs to the Khaista group of the TTP Mohmand chapter and was wanted to the police in 11 cases, including the killings of ANP Shabqadar leader Shah Jehan Durani, journalist Mukaram Khan Atif, and police constable Ayaz Khan.

The police recovered 150kgs of explosives, 100 yard of prima cord and fuses on Amanullah’s indication. Two other militants, Wasiullah alias Abu Bakar of Afghanistan and Roohullah alias Shamsur Rehman of Shabqadar, were also arrested during a search operation in the Dando Pul area.

Meanwhile, the Karachi police also arrested a key commander of the TTP Karachi chapter early Saturday morning.


Published in The Express Tribune, December 28th, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

Hamza | 9 years ago | Reply

These days I check the express tribune every morning to see how many more barbarians have been shot dead by our security forces. Great job! Keep these news coming it lightens up my day.

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ