Seven Yazidi takfiri Taliban terrorist killed in shootouts with rangers and police

Seven Yazidi takfiri nasbi terrorist associated with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including two of its local commanders, were killed on Friday in joint raids conducted by personnel of the Sindh police and Rangers in Manghopir, Lyari and SITE areas.

The first operation against the Yazidi takfiri nasbi Taliban terrorists took place in the Sultanabad area of Manghopir in which three Rangers personnel were also injured when the militants attacked them with hand grenades and Kalashnikovs.

DIG West Tahir Naveed told the Shiite News that the joint operation was conducted by the Sindh police and Rangers after receiving information that the terrorists were hiding in Sultanabad and were planning attacks against law-enforcement agencies.

He said law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and also carried out aerial surveillance to prevent the terrorists from escaping and eliminate the risk of them receiving outside help.

“But when the police and rangers personnel entered the area, militants threw hand grenades and also fired at them using Kalashnikovs resulting in injuries to three Rangers personnel who were immediately shifted to the hospital,” he said. “Two are in stable condition while the third is critical.”

In the ensuing gunfight, said the DIG West, two terrorists were killed. They were identified as 35-year-old Fakhruddin Mehsud alias Fakhru and 28-year-old Abid alias Chotu. According to him, both Fakhru and Abid Chotu were local TTP commanders of Sultanabad and Manghopir and had carried out attacks on police and Rangers personnel.

Seven of their aides, including three who had been injured in the shootout, managed to escape. However, the law enforcers later found three bodies who they claimed were the same terrorists injured in the earlier encounter.

Meanwhile, some Rangers officials said that the raid had been carried out on the hideout of notorious terrorist Abid alias Machar, who was involved in attacks on the paramilitary force and the police. They said three militants, including Zohail and Yasir, were injured in the encounter and escaped from the law-enforcers but later succumbed to their bullet wounds. Their bodies were recovered by the law-enforcers while carrying out a search of the area.

The police also recovered a cache of weapons including Kalashnikovs, hand grenades and explosives from the terrorists’ hideout. The police said they were searching for the four missing militants. Though the search was called off after sunset, it would continue the next morning, they added.

AIG Karachi Ghulam Qadir Thebo announced a cash reward and commendation certificates for the police party of the West Zone for their gallantry and success in the operation against militants.

The sixth TTP man was killed in a shootout with the Rangers personnel in Usmanabad area of Lyari, within the remits of Kalakot police station. According to the paramilitary officials, they raided the hideout of Hazrat Bilal Shah situated in Usmanabad Mill area’s Khatri Street. The terrorist opened fire at the Rangers personnel when they challenged him and he died in retaliatory firing by the law enforcers. One Kalashnikov and two hand grenades were found in his possession, added the paramilitary officials. City SSP Sheeraz Nazir confirmed the death of Hazrat Bilal Badshah.

Yet another TTP terrorist was killed in retaliatory action when he along with an accomplice tried to attack a police party in the SITE area. According to an official of the Karachi police, a contingent had been patrolling in SITE area when two armed men on a motorcycle opened fire. The policemen returned fire after which one of the men was killed while the other escaped the scene. Two 9mm pistols were found from them, including the one used by the attacker, identified as Nisar Swati, who the SSP Irfan Baloch said was killed. Police officials said that Nisar is affiliated with the faction of Taliban hailing from Swat. They said he was involved in killing police personnel in Frontier Colony, Mominabad and Peerabad areas of Orangi Town.