The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has killed six suspected terrorists in two separate Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) carried out late Tuesday.
Both operations targeted members of Fitna al-Khawarij, the term the state uses for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
In the first operation, Kohat CTD received a tip-off that terrorists had set up a checkpoint on Shakardara Road and were plotting to obstruct the movement of law enforcement personnel. A Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was dispatched to the location, where the suspects opened fire on CTD personnel.
Three terrorists were killed in the exchange. Authorities recovered three Kalashnikovs, nine magazines and multiple rounds of ammunition from the scene. Other accomplices managed to flee.
In the second operation, Mardan CTD received information that a group of terrorists was moving from Mohmand district into Charsadda to carry out attacks. Teams were deployed at Shabqadar in Charsadda to intercept them. The terrorists again opened fire, leading to an intense exchange. Three were found dead after the gunfight ended.
The CTD identified the three killed in Charsadda as Hayat Khan alias Hayatullah, Asim and Aminullah alias Muawiya alias Qari. Preliminary investigations revealed all three were wanted in multiple terrorism and targeted killing cases.
Hayat Khan was a proclaimed offender wanted in connection with the targeted killing of religious scholar Maulana Izzatullah. Asim was allegedly involved in attacks on police personnel and religious leaders in Khyber district.
Three Kalashnikovs and hand grenades were recovered from the second site. A search operation to apprehend those who escaped is going on.
