PESHAWAR:The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police killed three suspected terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Sakhadob area within the jurisdiction of Kanju Police Station in Swat early Thursday, while two others escaped.
According to a CTD press release, the operation followed credible intelligence that militants affiliated with the group of TTP commander Muzaffar alias Khalid were present in the Segram, Lalu Banda and adjoining mountainous areas to carry out terrorist activities.
The CTD Swat Region formed teams and launched the operation in coordination with district police. The suspects opened fire on the personnel upon seeing them and took positions inside a nearby house.
The security personnel retaliated, and after the exchange of fire ended, they recovered the bodies of three suspects from the house.
The deceased were identified as Abdullah, son of Syed Bashar, and Mansoor Ali, son of Abdul Matlub, residents of Nilagram in Matta, and Ghufranullah, son of Afzal Khan, a resident of Shidala in Shakardara. All three belonged to Swat district.
The police recovered three Kalashnikov rifles, six magazines, multiple rounds of ammunition, a gas cylinder, cooking utensils, a map of Shakardara Police Station and a diary from the scene and the deceased.
According to preliminary information, the suspects were allegedly involved in several terrorist incidents reported this year, including a firing attack on Afzal Khan Gujar, firing at the house and hujra of Nemat Ali Khan, and the targeted killing of Saleemullah alias Sajid of Nilagram.
The CTD said a search operation was under way to trace the two escaped suspects, while further investigation into the incident continued.
Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed and the Additional Inspector General of the CTD commended the personnel involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.
They reiterated their resolve to continue operations against terrorism and use all available resources to protect the lives and property of the public.