Exchange of fire: Taliban commander, Aman committee member killed

Firefight ensue in which Bhittani and an aman committee member, Wahid Jan, was killed.

DI KHAN:

A suspected militant was killed along with an aman committee member during an exchange of fire in Kari Hyder Khel village of Tank, according to a police official. A security forces official was also injured in the incident.

Security forces and aman committee members carried out a joint raid late Wednesday night on the house of Shakir Bhittani, a suspected Taliban commander, who opened fire after seeing his house surrounded. A firefight ensued in which Bhittani and an aman committee member, Wahid Jan, was killed. A security forces official was also injured after being shot in the crossfire.

The police official said Bhittani rarely visited his house but intelligence reports had indicated he was in the area to attend a wedding ceremony which led officials to plan a raid to nab him. Bhittani was said to be associated with the Bahawal Khan Bhittani group, linked with the Haqqani network.

Meanwhile, a revenue official, Sohail Ahmad, was allegedly kidnapped by unidentified people in Rodi Khel late Wednesday night. A police official said a case has been registered against unidentified kidnappers.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2014.