At least five terrorists killed in Rajanpur raid

RAJANPUR:

At least five terrorists of the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA) were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) jointly conducted by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Punjab’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in an area of Rajanpur district on Friday.

According to a CTD spokesperson, a major terrorism bid was averted when security forces were tipped-off about the hideout of eight BRA terrorists near the Arbi Tibba road, within the limits of PS Rojhan, district of Rajanpur.

The spokesperson said security officials raided the hideout and asked the terrorists to surrender. However, instead of surrendering, they started firing at the security personnel indiscriminately, the spokesperson said.

The statement maintained that the, “The raiding party took precautionary measures and a shootout ensued. When the firing stopped, five terrorists were found dead by the firing of their own accomplices.”

The terrorists killed were identified as Ghulam Hussain, Master Ali, Ramzan, Dost Muhammad and Ataa Muhammad.

However, three terrorists managed to escape on motorcycles under the cover of darkness, said the CTD spokesperson, adding that a search was on to arrest them.

A bomb disposal squad (BDS) was called to analyse an improvised explosive device (IED), 4kg explosive materials, 50ft of primacord (detonating cord) and four detonators that were found at the site along with a large cache of arms and ammunition, that included three submachine guns and two .30 calibre pistols.

The CTD spokesperson said that the terrorists had planned to attack government installations and law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

According to an initial investigation, these terrorists had been involved in the November 10, 2019 attack on LEAs. Five security officials were martyred in the attack.

“Bodies of the terrorists have been shifted to the district hospital where the process of their identification and other formalities are underway,” the CTD added.

On July 25, security forces successfully conducted an IBO on a militants’ hideout near Turbat, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

The military's media wing said that a key terrorist of the proscribed organisation, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was killed during the operation in Kech District’s Buleda valley.

A large cache of arms and ammunition, hand grenades, communication equipment and other material which was to be used in the making of an IED was recovered from the hideout.

The operation was carried out the same day a Pakistan Army soldier embraced martyrdom while three others sustained injuries in an ambush on their convoy in the same area.

The terrorists opened fire on security forces during routine patrolling near Pidarak in Kech district, approximately 35 kilometres southeast of Turbat, military’s media wing, the ISPR, said in a statement.

“During the exchange of fire, Lance Naik Javed Karim embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while three other soldiers got injured,” it said.

Later, security forces had cordoned off the area in search of the terrorists.