LOWER DIR: Six militants associated with Fitna al Khawarij were killed during an exchange of fire with police in the Barcharai Talash area of Lower Dir, officials said on Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, district police, Elite Force, and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel jointly conducted an operation in the Barcharai hills targeting Khawarij militants.
Police said the bodies of the six militants were found in a forested area. Four of the bodies were taken into custody by law enforcement officials.
The slain Khawarij were identified as Khalil ur Rehman alias Saddam, Najamuddin alias Abu dujana, and Kifayatulla. The militants were involved in multiple attacks, including the recent Badwan Bridge police post.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the successful operation against militants in Lower Dir and commended the CTD Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and police for their performance.
He said the militants’ “malicious designs” were foiled by the bravery and professionalism of CTD and police personnel.
Naqvi said the nation was proud of the courage and dedication of its law enforcement forces.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bordering Afghanistan, has witnessed a sharp rise in militant attacks in recent years, driven by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as Fitna al Khawarij.
Last Year, more than 175,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted against militants of Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, respectively. In these operations, record 1,890 militants killed.
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The minister said authorities recorded 3,355 militant incidents during the year, 95 percent of them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said last week that authorities recorded 3,355 militant incidents during the year, 95 percent of them in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
