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Thursday November 28, 2024

Two women among three terrorists killed in Rawalpindi raid

Explosive-laden vehicle recovered; terrorists planned attack during Muharram; two children also die

By our correspondents
October 16, 2015
RAWALPINDI: Three terrorists, including two women, and one police commando were killed during an intelligence based operation against terrorists in village Jorian near the Dhamial Base in the wee hours of Thursday. Two children also died in the encounter.
Three police commandos were also wounded critically in the shootout during which three terrorists were also arrested.
On a tip off from a Multan-based intelligence agency, a joint team of intelligence agency and police raided a house located in the Jorian village at 2:00am and cordoned off the area. As the joint raiding team reached the house, resistance was offered from the housemates who opened fire. Resultantly, Sub-Inspector of Elite Force Irshad was killed and three other personnel, including ASI Ibrar, sustained bullet injuries. The condition of ASI Ibrar is critical.
The joint operation was part of the National Action Plan, under which personnel of law enforcement agencies and police are taking action against suspects and terrorists across the country.One of the injured terrorists was reportedly a TTP commander who was planning a terrorist attack during Muharramul Haram in Rawalpindi.
The people engaged in the investigation of the case indicated that the terrorists had planned toThe three-storey house attacked by the law enforcers was located in Iqbal Town, village Jorian, in jurisdiction of Police Station Sadar, Beruni Rawalpindi. The terrorists opened fire on the raiding party and also hurled hand grenades. The dead included two women and two children. The injured terrorists were initially taken to DHQ Hospital and were later shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
One of the detained terrorists was identified as Abid, son of Younas, resident of village Mirza, district Attock. It has also been learnt that Abid is a close associate of Qari Sohail, mastermind of colonel (R) Shuja Khanzada suicide blast case.
Initial reports by police revealed that one woman from inside the raided house blew herself along with one another woman and two children by blowing grenades. One killed woman was recognised as Malika Bibi and other as Sumaira Bibi. The children are recognised as Azan and Muhammad Umar.
It has further been learnt that the said house is owned by Muhammad Ishtiaq, son of Noor Hussain, and was rented in by Qaisar Mustafa, son of Muhammad Asif Mustafa, resident of Hajira, AJK in August 2014. Qaisar got this house on rent through a reference of a school teacher namely Shahnaz, resident of Palandari, AJK. Shahnaz is a teacher in the local private school, SKS Montessori School, and the said school is adjacent to the raided house.
Police later searched the house and recovered two 9MM pistols, two hand grenades, 20-25 mobile SIM cards of different networks, four mobile phones and one old model Mitsubishi Lancer Car bearing Karachi registration number S-0303. There were reports that explosives were loaded in the car.
The investigation agencies have widened the circle of investigation to Northern Areas, Multan and Azad Kashmir to hunt down aides of the terrorists.The people engaged in the investigation of the case indicated that the terrorists had planned to hit sensitive installations at Dhamial, Rawalpindi and Islamabad which was foiled by the intelligence and law enforcement agencies.