Six suspected militants were killed in a joint intelligence-based operation conducted by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police in the Lower Dir District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said on Wednesday. According to the CTD, the ‘most-wanted’ militants were involved in several acts of terrorism, including an attack on a police post and other terror-related activities. Law enforcement agencies had been actively searching for them. Officials said that during the operation, six Kalashnikov rifles, three hand grenades, and other weapons and ammunition were recovered from their possession. The CTD identified the slain militants as Khaleel-ur-Rehman alias Saddam, Najamuddin alias Abu Jana, and Kifayatullah, while efforts are underway to confirm the identities of three others. Officials added that some militants managed to flee during the operation, and a search operation has been launched to arrest them. Following the success of the operation, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Additional IG CTD lauded the personnel involved for their professionalism and performance. The Additional IG CTD said that all possible measures were being taken to protect the lives and property of citizens, adding that operations against militant elements would continue without discrimination. He further said that law enforcement agencies were determined to bring all wanted militants to justice.



