Arrested target killer of police among four killed in encounter

A suspected serial-killer of the police and alleged member of the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Faizan Butt, who was reportedly involved in three attacks on police officials in Lahore within a week, was killed along with three other terrorists during an encounter in Karol Ghatti on Sunday night.

The counter-terrorism department’s spokesperson told the media that the team took the arrested terrorists to Karol Jungle for seizure of weapons. Meanwhile, about six terrorists opened fire on the police, as a result, four of the terrorists were shot dead by the firing of their accomplices while three managed to escape.

The police seized two Kalashnikovs and a pistol from the spot, he said.

UPDATE: “The target killer involved in killings’s of Lahore police was himself killed in a gun battle with militants during a recovery operation.”

The Counter Terrorism Department Punjab in a statement claimed that Faizan Butt who went by pseudonym Usman Khurasani was taken to… https://t.co/FcHiZebeU2

— The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) May 12, 2024

Faizan had shot dead a sub-inspector and a constable after following them when they were unarmed on their way back home. He had also shot and injured another police constable. Investigations revealed that he recorded the attacks by using a pen camera, ensuring that the victim was dead before leaving. He then sent the recordings to his handlers as proof.

He was arrested from a housing society on May 3.

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Initial investigations suggested that the suspect was frustrated because the police had registered a case against him.

The CTD had received information that he had contacted some people in his area to help him join a militant organisation.

Later, Faizan got arrested for carrying explosives and he was sent to prison. There he met a jailed leader of a banned sectarian outfit who helped him in getting released on bail.

He went to Afghanistan where he had meetings with TTP leaders who assigned him the task of killing six policemen to prove his loyalty.

The suspect revealed in police custody that the banned group had arranged a 30-bore and a 9mm pistol for the killings.

Faizan’s father was a manager in a factory and lived in Shadbagh. His mother had separated from him and lived in the private housing society.