Five militants among seven ‘terrorists’ killed in Karachi

KARACHI: Police claimed killing seven alleged terrorists, including five members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other banned outfits, in shootouts here late on Wednesday night.
SSP Azfar Mehesar of District West said a Mominabad police team was patrolling the Zia Colony in Orangi Town when they saw some suspects in a Hi-roof van. When the police signalled the van driver to pull over, the suspects opened fire.
As the police retaliated, more companions of the alleged terrorists who were coming behind the van on a motorcycle attacked the cops, wounding Police Constable (PC) Naseem. The police called in the back-up force and District West platoons soon arrived at the scene.
After the encounter ended, five suspects were arrested in an injured condition but their accomplices escaped under the cover of darkness. The injured were moved to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) where they were pronounced dead.
SSP Mehesar said the hi-roof van and the motorcycle were impounded, and during a search of the hi-roof, a ready-to-use IED weighing about four kilograms was found. The Bomb Disposal Squad later defused the bomb. Explosive material, a detonating cord, nut bolts, nails, batteries, three TT pistols, a Kalashnikov, hand grenades, ball bombs and some other accessories were also found from the van. The police did not immediately release the identities of the militants.
The SSP said the terrorists might have been planning to carry out an attack at some place or installation in retaliation against the killing of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi chief Malik Ishaq in Punjab.In the Chakiwara area, the South Range police gunned down two suspected terrorists associated with the Lyari gang war in as many encounters.
SSP Fida Hussain Janwari said the first encounter took place in Chakiwara where a member of the Baba Ladla group was killed. In a separate encounter in Napier, another terrorist of the Baba Ladla group was shot dead.The two were said to be involved in target killings, extortion and short-term kidnappings for ransom. Police found grenades, 9mm pistols and rounds on the dead.