Six Taliban terrorists killed in ‘encounter’ at Karachi

Six militants belonging to the Notorious Outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, who were allegedly planning to carry out terrorist attacks on law enforcement personnel and foreigners, were gunned down in an ‘encounter’ in the Manghopir area on Thursday evening, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rao Anwar said the police had received an intelligence report that militants belonging to the TTP, who had fled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after the Rangers-led operation began, had returned recently and were allegedly planning major terrorist activities against law enforcers and foreigners.

Acting on a tip-off, police contingents encircled their alleged hideout located in Malik Goth, surrounded by hillocks, near the Water Filter Plant.

On seeing the police, they resorted to firing, wounding two policemen.

The police returned fire and killed six suspects, said SSP Anwar. The senior police officer was recently tasked by the provincial police chief to take on culprits allegedly involved in the targeted killing of policemen in the metropolis.

The officer identified one of the dead as Haider Ali, a ‘commander’ of the TTP, and another as Abdullah. They belonged to the Swat and Shangla areas of KP. The identity of the four others could not be ascertained immediately.

“This militant group was involved in kidnappings for ransom as well,” said SSP Anwar.

The officer recalled that the militants had allegedly kidnapped Ahsan in the Garden area and released him only after receiving a ransom. They had also allegedly kidnapped people in the Bin Qasim Town area besides killing policemen.

The intelligence agency had revealed in their report that this militant group was planning terrorist attacks against the police and other law enforcement agencies and foreigners, especially those visiting the Zainab Market area in Saddar.

“Police seized prepared bombs, explosive material, chemicals and arms and ammunition in a large quantity from their custody,” said the SSP.

The Manghopir police officer, in whose jurisdiction the deadly encounter took place, identified one of the wounded policemen as Manzoor.

The officer said that a repeater, a 9mm pistol, two 30-bore pistols and explosive material were found in their custody. He said the suspects lived in a makeshift house among berry trees behind the Hub filter plant.

Manghopir is considered one of the city areas where frequent ‘encounters’ take place. During the last 11 months, over 30 suspected militants have been gunned down in several so-called encounters there.

On Thursday night, the police brought the six bodies to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for post-mortem examinations.