KARACHI: Three suspected militants were killed in a ‘shootout’ with police in Ittehad Town on Tuesday as a predawn raid turned into a deadly gun battle.

A senior official said a team of the Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) raided a hideout in Ittehad Town on intelligence reports about the presence of some militants associated with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The raid turned into an exchange of gunfire.

“When the personnel of law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the area, the armed men attacked them. The attack led to retaliation from our side, which triggered exchange of gunfire,” said AVCC SP Irfan Bahadur.

“After an encounter, three militants were killed. When the guns fell silent we searched the hideout and found explosives, suicide vest, hand grenades and assault rifles.”

He said though the deceased militants were not identified, the investigators had reasons to believe that they were associated with the TTP and were planning terrorist activities during the holy month of Muharram.

“The bodies have been moved to the Edhi morgue for want of identification after medico-legal formalities at the Civil Hospital Karachi. The police are trying to trace their families,” concluded the AVCC SP.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2018