Islamabad, 17 July (H.S.): Five suspected terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation carried out by the police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Thursday. A cache of rifles and a large quantity of ammunition was recovered from the site.

According to a report by Dunya News, the operation was launched in Bannu district following specific intelligence inputs. As security personnel approached the location, the terrorists allegedly opened indiscriminate fire, triggering a gun battle in which five suspected militants were killed. Several other suspects, however, managed to flee.

Following the encounter, a large police contingent was deployed to the area, and a search operation was launched to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

Police said the process of identifying the deceased terrorists is currently underway. Security forces recovered five Kalashnikov rifles, ten magazines, five bandoliers, two hand grenades, and a substantial quantity of ammunition from their possession.

The Inspector General of Police for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said that strict action would also be taken against individuals providing logistical or other support to the terrorists.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar