KARACHI: Law enforcement agencies on Thursday claimed to have killed four suspected militants belonging to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan in an encounter in the Manghopir area.

They said the TTP suspects (Swat group) had arrived in the city to sabotage Independence Day celebrations.

The law enforcers conducted a targeted raid in Mir Mohammed Goth, and in the ensuing encounter, the four suspects got killed, according to the Rangers spokesperson.

“It was a joint operation conducted by the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, and police,” said Manghopir SHO Ghulam Husain Korai.

He identified the deceased as Ikramullah, Sajjad alias Sajid, Ayaz and Jibran. “All of them belonged to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (Swat group),” said the officer.

“They were involved in the killing of policemen and soldiers,” said Mr Korai.

Three Kalashnikovs, explosive material and grenades were seized from their custody after the shootout, the officer said.

He said that a threat alert had already been issued on account of the Independence Day celebrations and they had received intelligence reports that the militants had arrived in the city to carry out terror act.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2016