PESHAWAR: One soldier was martyred and three others were injured in an exchange of fire with suspected militants in Janikhel subdivision of Bannu district on Tuesday, officials said.

Hanif Ullah, a wanted terrorist, was also killed in the gun battle.

Officials said Hanif Ullah had affiliation with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (Akhtar Mohammad group).

Officials said intelligence had been received about the whereabouts of Hanif Ullah in the Janikhel area. When security forces raided the hideout, the militants opened fire on them. One soldier Shah Rukh was martyred while three others — Bilal, Mohammad Ramzan and Mohammad Kamran — received injuries.

Wounded soldiers were shifted to the Combined Military Hospital, Bannu.

Officials said weapons were seized from the hideout.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2019