KARACHI: At least five suspected terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP), including its Karachi chief, were killed in an alleged encounter with Sindh Rangers in Karachi's Kaemari Town on Wednesday morning, the paramilitary force said.

Acting on a tip-off, the Rangers carried out an operation on a location in Kaemari's Tapo area in which two paramilitary personnel were also injured.

According to a Rangers spokesperson, a resident had informed the paramilitary force about the presence of suspected terrorists in the area, at about 6 am via their 1101 helpline.

The spokesman added that following the tip-off, the force took immediate action and reached the location and cordoned off the area.

As soon as Rangers' personnel reached the site, the terrorists opened fire, the spokesman said, adding that they also threw hand grenades aimed towards the paramilitary force personnel who then returned fire.

As a result, the head of TTP's Ilyas Kashmiri group Umar aka Moon along with four other members Anas Ahmed aka Saqib, Abdul Rauf aka Bilal, Javed Hassan aka Yaseen and Talha Faisal aka Imran were killed and two Rangers personnel were injured. The bodies and injured were subsequently shifted to a local hospital.

According to Rangers, the group was responsible for the 2014 suicide attack on Rangers' sector commander, target killing and bank heists. The group had reportedly also planned an attack on Expo Center during an exhibition.

Five hand grenades and a large cache of ammunition were also recovered from the possession of the suspected terrorists.

According to Rangers, the alleged terrorists, who the force did not clearly identify, were associated with a banned organisation.