Officials were acting on information that militants were hiding in the area. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
The intelligence agencies had informed the police that suicide bombers, equipped with suicide vests, hand grenades and pistols had reached the city and were taking refuge in a hideout inside residential areas. It was suspected that the miscreants were planning on disrupting the voting process on Election Day.
The police then initiated a district-wide search operation to locate them.
Around 6pm, the police received authentic reports that the militants were hiding in a densely populated town in Rashid Garhi. A group of policemen were then sent to conduct a raid in the house in Saddar Town but were fiercely resisted by the militants, killing two police constables in the process.
The police cordoned the entire area off to block all escape routes of the militants.
An hour later, a suicide bomber blew himself up, as a result of which the house caved in killing an elderly woman and other militants present with him.
"We are unable to confirm how many militants have been killed," said a police official. Two suspected militants have, however, been arrested.
A child in a nearby house was also wounded and was immediately taken to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).
The two and a half hour long operation spread panic in the area as all entry and escape routes to the location were closed.
The official said the police are trying their level best to ensure fool proof security on Election Day.
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