Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Three suspected Islamic State (Daesh) terrorists, including its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief Arif alias Khalil alias Abuzar, were killed and five security personnel injured in an exchange of fire in Shahpur village, Peshawar on Saturday.

Law-enforcement agencies raided the hideout of the terrorists at a flourmill on Dalazak Road in the morning and the gun battle lasted for over six hours. Some terrorists managed to flee and one injured in the shootout was arrested. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was carried out under Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad military offensive against the terrorists in Shahpur area of Mathra, Peshawar, in the wee hours. Three policemen and two army soldiers were injured in the exchange of fire. The injured policemen were identified as Gulbahar Station House Officer (SHO) Umar Afridi, Inspector Ziaullah and gunman Arshad. According to police, a large quantity of explosives, AK 47s and material used in assembling improvised explosive devices were found at their hideout. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police (IGP) Salahuddin Mehsud praised the law enforcers for taking part in the operation and announced Rs 500,000 for them. “KP Police have set a new record of bravery by averting the three terrorists from carrying out their activities. The killed terrorists were associated with a banned group and they were involved in several attacks and target killings of police personnel in Peshawar,” Salahuddin Mehsud said. “These terrorists were also responsible for an attack on police in Qazi Killay where they had also planted explosives,” IGP added.

Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.