GUJRAT/MANDI BAHAUDDIN, Oct 6: A Rangers’ officer died in a shootout near Mandi Bahauddin following a raid on an outhouse sheltering some ‘terrorism suspects.’

Sources said security agencies led by a team from Rawalpindi raided early on Friday morning the outhouse of Harya union council Nazim Abdur Rauf Gondal, about 12 kilometres from here.

In an exchange of fire between men of the nazim and Rangers personnel, the sources said, Rangers officer Abdullah Gondal suffered injuries which proved fatal.

Later, police arrested Abdur Rauf Gondal, his brother Dr Zafar Iqbal Gondal and seven other people.

The sources said the arrested men were wanted in some terrorism cases, including this week’s blast in Rawalpindi’s Ayub Park and last year’s attack on a place of worship of the Ahmadi community in the Mong village of Mandi Bahauddin.

The sources said that the Mandi police, assisted by other agencies, had raided Dhadial in Chakwal a few days ago and arrested three suspects — Arshad, Azhar and Khizar — who belonged to a banned organisation.

They said the three men were alleged to be involved in the Mong village attack in which eight people were killed. Police believe that they were also involved in a blast in Malikwal Imambargah.

Following interrogation of the suspects, security agencies picked up Sikandar Hayat Gondal who had lost the election for the Harya union council nazim. On the basis of ‘disclosures’ made by him, the agencies moved to arrest the Harya UC nazim and raided his outhouse in Bhagowal where the Rangers official was killed.