ISLAMABAD/GUJRAT : Security officials in Punjab said Sunday thatanti-terrorism force killed six Taliban militants in an overnight operationin Gujrat district.
The Counter Terrorism Department conducted an Intelligence Based Operation(IBO) at 11 pm Saturday and disturbed a big terrorist plan, a securityreport said, a copy of which was available to NNI.
“Punjab saved from a big tragedy. A total of 6 terrorists of TTP(Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) were killed. Most wanted terrorist of Red Book,Muhammad Suhaib, included among dead terrorists,” the report said.
The terrorists were planning to target sensitive installations on Sundaymorning, according to the CTD spokesman.
Maps, suicide jackets, explosive material, electronic devices, five handgrenades and different kind of weapons were recovered from the deadterrorists, the report said.
It said the CTD officials in Gujrat got a reliable source info that 8 to 9terrorists belonging to TTP and Jamaat ul Ahrar, a splinter Taliban, werepresent near area of Shadiwal Power Station and were ready to attack asensitive installation early morning.
“On this info, an IBO (Intelligence Based Operation) was conducted by CTDTeams near Shadiwal Power Station at Bridge of Upper Jhelum Canal, 8/9persons on three Motor Cycles came from Shadiwal at Nakabandi point,” itsaid.
Police Party tried to stop them but they started indiscriminate firing atCTD Teams, it said, adding the CTD Team warned the terrorists to surrenderbut they continued indiscriminate firing on the Police Party.
The reports said the CTD Team took precautions and a shoot out ensuedduring this Operation.
When the firing stopped, 06 terrorists were found dead at different placesat the occurrence, while on one motor cycle 03 terrorists fled away fromscene taking advantage of darkness, the report further said. The CTD hadbeen chasing this network for quite some time.
The terrorists were Proclaimed Offenders and were involved in several bombblasts in Lahore including Ferozepur Road & Bedian Road Blasts of 2017 inwhich dozens of innocent citizens were killed.
“Terrorist Suhaib was mastermind of target killing of Brigadier ZahoorQadri of Sargodha. This network was planning to make several more terroristsuicide attacks,” the report said.
Those killed identified as Muhammad Suhaib, Abdul Muqeem, Muhammad FaisalNisar, Muhammad Usman, Abdul Azeem and Rauf Ahmad.
Two Suicide Jackets, Klashnikov with Cartridges, one Pump Action gun, 3pistols 30 bore, 5 Hand Grenades alongwith striker assemblies, 2 MotorCycles, 5 Detonators, bullets & empty cartridges and Maps of ImportantInstallations were recovered.