Three terrorists killed in Swat IBO

Bodies recovered from hideout in Kanju area; weapons, maps and documents seized

SWAT:

Three wanted terrorists belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during a joint intelligence-based operation by the Swat Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police on Thursday. Two of their companions managed to flee the scene and are being actively searched for.

The Swat Region CTD received confirmed intelligence that several terrorists linked to the group of TTP commander Muzaffar alias Khalid were present in the mountainous stretches of Segram, Lalo Banda and adjoining areas under the jurisdiction of Kanju police station, intending to carry out sabotage activities.

A well-prepared operation was launched. At Sakhadoob within Kanju police station limits, the terrorists opened fire as soon as they spotted the security personnel. In the ensuing exchange, the militants took positions inside a nearby house and continued indiscriminate firing.

Once the shooting stopped, a search of the house yielded the bodies of three terrorists. The two remaining militants had already escaped; efforts to track them down are under way.

From the possession of the killed terrorists, security forces recovered three AK47 Kalashnikov rifles, six magazines and a large quantity of ammunition. A gas cylinder used for cooking and several utensils were also found at the hideout.

During the body search, national identity cards of the three slain militants, a map of Shakardara police station and a diary were recovered.

The deceased have been identified as Abdullah, son of Syed Bashir, resident of Neela Gram, Matta, Swat; Mansoor Ali, son of Abdul Muttalib, also of Neela Gram, Matta, Swat; and Ghufranullah, son of Afzal Khan, resident of Shidala, Shakardara, Swat.

Preliminary information indicates that the three were involved in multiple terrorist incidents this year. These include a firing attack on Afzal Khan Gujjar, firing on the house of Nemat Ali Khan, the targeted killing of Saleemullah alias Sajid of Neela Gram, and several other attacks.