LAKKI MARWAT: Seven terrorists were killed on Saturday in a joint operation conducted by police and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), with the support of villagers in the Takhtikhel area of Lakki Marwat district, officials said.

The regional police officer’s (RPO) spokesperson confirmed the clash between law enforcers and terrorists. “A large police contingent backed by CTD commandos was dispatched to the remote rural area when local police authorities received credible information about the presence of Fitna al-Khawarij terrorists,” he said, using an official term for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

He added that a fierce gun battle erupted when law enforcers tried to surround the terrorists in the border area between Lakki Marwat and Bannu.

According to the official, seven terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire that lasted several hours. “The police first recovered five bodies and then two more bodies of terrorists were found during a search operation,” he said, adding that no policemen were hurt in the fighting.

The regional police chief said the militants had initially moved into the Shaikh Landak area, within the Havaid police jurisdiction, to attack a police post. He told reporters when police, with the support of residents, swung into action, the terrorists fled towards Takhtikhel, where they were again confronted by police and villagers. “The terrorists were surrounded by the police and armed tribesmen of both districts,” he said, adding that police had seized arms and ammunition from the slain militants and launched a search for their fleeing accomplices.

“Law enforcers are busy in the sanitisation operation to clear the area of other terrorists and recover the bodies of more slain Khawarij, if any,” he said.

RPO Khan said the militants’ hideouts were being identified with the help of locals. “These operations are proof of the police’s strong resolve and commitment to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” he asserted.

KP police chief Zulfiqar Hameed praised the police for their “quick and effective action” against Fitna al-Khawarij.

Bridge blown up

Separately, a small bridge was blown up with explosives in the Masoomabad area on the Bannu-Miranshah Road on Friday night.

A police official said an improvised explosive device planted under the culvert exploded, damaging part of the bridge. He said the blast was heard across the locality. “Luckily, no human loss occurred as a result of the explosion,” he added.

Quadcopter strike

Meanwhile, four people, including two teenagers, were injured in a quadcopter strike in the Sher­i­k­hel area of Lakki Marwat on Friday evening. A police official said that based on initial reports, explosives were dropped from a quadcopter on a cricket ground where villagers had gathered to watch a match.

“The injured were shifted to the District Head­quarters Hos­pital,” the official said.

Also on Saturday, RPO Sajjad Khan paid an unannounced visit to parts of Bannu city to review security arrangements, traffic management and police deployment at key public places.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2025