KARACHI: Five suspected militants, including a commander of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan's (TTPs) Swat chapter, were killed and a weapons and bomb making factory was recovered during an operation in Gulshan-i-Buner area of Karachi's Landhi area, police said on Tuesday.

Security sources said that a police team conducted the raid after receiving a tip-off regarding the presence of hardened criminals in the vicinity.

The police team was fired upon once they entered the area.

At least five 'terrorists' were killed in retaliatory firing by security personnel, including a commander belonging to TTP's Swat chapter, police sources claimed adding that a weapon and bomb-making factory was also recovered along with a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

Fear and panic gripped the area while markets and business closed down in Gulshan-i-Buner in Landhi district near Quaidabad following the sound of gunshots.

Meanwhile, police sources added that efforts were underway to apprehend accomplices of the arrested culprits.

In September last year, a Rangers-led targeted operation was launched with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies in hundreds of lists for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.

— Sohail Shabbir contributed to the reporting of this story