Four terrorists killed in Karachi’s Urdu Bazaar

Interior minister lauds successful operation

KARACHI: Three militants, a female facilitator and her five-year-old daughter were killed in a paramilitary force’s seven-hour long operation in Urdu Bazaar area during the wee hours of Tuesday.

The killed militants are believed to be associated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat (TTS) and Jundullah.

"The raid was conducted on a tip-off provided by an already arrested high-profile terrorist from Ittehad Town area of Baldia Town," explained a Rangers spokesperson.

The raid was conducted at around 7:17pm on Monday evening at a residential building on Street No Three of Urdu Bazaar.



“As soon as the terrorists saw the Rangers, they hurled hand grenades and fired with sophisticated weapons at them, injuring four troops,” said the spokesperson. "The Rangers cordoned off the building propelling the three terrorists to confine themselves to a room."

One terrorist was killed by Rangers’ firing while he was trying to flee and the remaining three terrorists blew themselves up in the room of the building during the operation that lasted till around 2:45am.

The spokesman also claimed to have recovered sophisticated weapons, hand grenades and ammunition from their possession. He said the bodies of the terrorists were shifted to the Edhi Morgue in Sohrab Goth.

Counter-Terrorism Department senior officer Raja Omar Khattab told the Express Tribune that it was the nexus of TTS and Jundullah.



"Bilal Mansoor aka Khalil Mansoor, had been working for TTS and Jundullah in Karachi in the past. He had left Karachi and gone to Wadh, Balochistan and Afghanistan,” Khattab said. “It seems that he returned to Karachi to form a team of terrorists and this residential apartment was his hideout.”

The deceased woman is said to be the wife of a killed terrorist Zahid Afridi and the deceased child his daughter.

It was also reported that the terrorists rented the apartment some three months ago. Security forces have detained the owner of the apartment from Mehmoodabad area. Further investigation is underway.

Ch Nisar lauds rangers

Director General Rangers Sindh Bilal Akbar on Tuesday contacted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan via telephone and briefed him on the action taken by the Rangers on Monday night.



According to the interior ministry, the minister congratulated the DG Rangers on an important success as a result of the long action carried out with great expertise and courage in a congested area.

He said the action of last night was one of the most important successes till now which was reflective of the professionalism and determination of Rangers.

The interior minister expressed his best wishes and prayed for the early recovery of the injured troops. He paid tribute to the efforts and sacrifices of the Rangers for maintaining law and order in Karachi.

According to a spokesman of the interior ministry, the prime minister also appreciated the performance of Rangers.