Police and a local militia neutralized three alleged terrorists during a “search and strike” operation conducted in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Saturday. Several terrorists also sustained injuries during the operation.
According to a statement issued to the press on Sunday by the office of the K-P inspector general police (IGP), the local police swung into action after receiving information about the presence of terrorists in the Tajwari area of the district.
It said the local police, contingents of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) as well as the Special Quick Response Force started a search operation in which members of a “Aman Committee” and residents of the area also participated.
“During the operation, the law enforcing agencies [and their local supporters] had an encounter with 20 to 25 terrorists at 10:45 am in the forest of Khankhel Manderzai which falls under the jurisdiction of Police Station Tajwari and Bargai.
“In the subsequent firefight in which heavy weapons were used by both sides and which continued for around 2 hours, the police, fighting valiantly, sent three terrorists to hell without sustaining any loss. A number of terrorists also received injuries and they later fled.”
The statement said a search operation continued in pursuit of the terrorists.
According to the Lakki Marwat’s district police officer (DPO), Jawwad Ishaq, who led the operation, the people of the area demonstrated exceptional bravery and patriotism by standing shoulder to shoulder with their police, thereby boosting their morale.
IG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed praised the courage and valor of the Lakki Marwat police and announced cash rewards and commendation certificates for the personnel involved in the operation.
