Rangers operation: Two ‘militants’ killed in suicide blast in Karachi

Police says they heard deafening explosion just as paramilitary Rangers troops were cordoning area off

KARACHI:

Two suspected militants were killed late Monday night when one of them blew himself up during a targeted operation in the Orangi Town neighbourhood of Karachi.

Police said they heard a deafening explosion just as paramilitary Rangers troops were cordoning the area off to conduct a search operation near Pareshan Chowk in Faqir Colony. The area is notorious for harbouring militants associated with different Taliban groups and other banned outfits. Several militants have been killed and arrested in the past during encounters with law enforcers. Police said the militants mounted a gun attack on the Rangers and lobbed hand grenades from a house they were using as a hideout.

Later, a blast occurred inside the house where nearly half a dozen suspects were present and apparently preparing an explosives-laden vehicle to carry out a major terrorist attack in the city. Sources said all the suspects in the house were probably killed in the blast.

The house was flattened in the explosion and a Rangers vehicle was partially damaged, while a paramilitary official suffered minor injuries.According to reports, the blast could be heard for miles. SP Orangi Ali Asif said the bomb disposal squad was called in to ascertain the nature of the blast.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2015.