KARACHI: Two terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Mufti Shaki-ullah group were gunned down on Saturday, in the wee hours during a shootout in intelligence-based operation, jointly conducted by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Sindh and Rangers in Korangi area. Meanwhile two other suspected criminals are claimed be have been killed by police in an encounter in Gulistan-i-Johar area who were said to be involved in the robbery at the Multi-National Company’s Food points. Officials of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) have claimed to have recovered weapons and explosive material from hideout, they also claim that forensic report of recovered weapons raveled that the same were used in the target killing of five police officials in the past recent months in Korangi and Abu-Alhasan Asfahani road. Raja Omer Khitab, incharge of raiding team has informed that they along with the team of Pakistan Rangers Sindh raided at the hideout of terrorists in Noorani Basti, Korangi where terrorists hurled a grenade on raiding party and opened fire, in retaliation from LEAs two persons were killed on the spot, later identified as Irfan ullah alias Hammad alias Sheena and Nasir alias Khalid. It is pertinent to mention that Counter Terrorism Departmen had claimed to have arrested at least seven activists of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Mufti Shakir group two weeks ago. According to SSP Intelligence of Counter Terrorism Departmen Omar Shahid, the terrorists were involved in killing of police officials in Korangi and Abul Hassan Isphani Road. He added that pamphlets have been recovered from the hideout of the terrorists, stating they were involved in the attack on police on Abul Hassan Isphani Road. Counter Terrorism Departmen claims that the killed terrorists were involved in murder of two traffic policemen, Constable Kamran and Head Constable Mohammad Khan, at Abul Hasan Ispahani Road while they were busy regulating traffic, adding that they recovered Constable Kamran’s MP-5 rifle from their custody. Sources said the deceased terrorists belonged to Mufti Shakir faction of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Earlier this week, two other terrorists of the same group were killed in a police encounter in Manghopir. The terrorists planned to attack places of worship and police personnel, Counter Terrorism Departmen SSP had said. Meanwhile police conducted a raid in Gulistan-e-Johar area of Karachi on Friday on a tip-off that a gang of dacoits was present in the area during which dacoits opened fire. Police returned the fire and as a result of the encounter two dacoits were killed. SSP East has informed the media that the killed dacoits were involved in robbery at a restaurant. He further said that the accused were identified with the help of CCTV footage. Police sources have said that other members of the gang have managed to escape from the scene. Sources further said that arms were also recovered from the dead dacoits. Published in Daily Times, August 20th 2017.