KARACHI: Nine suspected members of banned militant outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and al Qaeda were killed in an encounter with the police on the outskirts of the city on Sunday.
The clash broke out in the Mian Khan Goth area near the National Highway after police received intelligence information about the presence of TTP militants in a hideout.
Earlier this month, police killed seven Taliban insurgents in the Sohrab Goth area on the city's outskirts.
This time, the police claim to have killed militants plotting to conduct terrorist activities during Muharramul Haram processions. Over half a dozen militants, including their ring-leader; however, managed to escape during an exchange of fire.
In the encounter that began at around 2pm and lasted for about three hours, an extra contingent of police headed by Malir SSP Rao Anwar claim to have killed nine militants of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.
“SSP sahib was himself leading the raid,” DSP Qamar Ahmed told The Express Tribune. “The raid turned into a fierce gun battle between the police and the militants as the police came under heavy fire during the raid.”
Police officials said that they later retaliated with full force. As a result of the onslaught, nine militants were killed. The militants also attacked the police, and lobbed hand grenades during an exchange of fire; however, no official was hurt.
Bodies of the killed militants were later shifted to the Edhi morgue in Sohrab Goth for identification after medico-legal formalities completed at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.
Police said they were trying to learn the identities of the deceased. However, the group's ring-leader, who escaped the scene, had been identified and police was looking for him.
“Their mastermind has been identified as Irshadullah Waziri, son of Ashrafullah,” said DSP Ahmed. “Waziri is an expert in making vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED).” He is also TTP's Sindh chapter chief, added Rao.
Police officials said that the killed and escaped militants were planning to carryout major terrorist activities in Karachi during Muharramul Haram and had also recovered a huge cache of explosives, hand grenades and weapons.
A rickshaw was also recovered, which had allegedly been used to carryout a bomb blast during the holy month.
DSP Ahmed said that the killed militants were also involved in major bomb blasts and attacks on police and Rangers in Karachi, adding that they also reclaimed two sub machine guns (SMGs), which belonged to policemen killed by the same terrorists in the city's Quaidabad area few months back.
COMMENTS (3)
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Its not often we can say this but well done to the Karachi Police for killing these knuckle draggers.
The whole area has become a sanctuary for talibans, there should be a grand operation in the area as the whole area is also enroached. Simultaneously the katti pahari, banaras, qaudabad, and korangi crossing should be operated . To save the rest of the city from retaliation, as operation in that area is considered an ethnic attack by the illiterate people.
it seems fake encounter ...all the time and all the way ....as usual.