PESHAWAR/KARACHI - In the aftermath of Peshawar school massacre, the valiant forces of the land have unleashed hell on the Taliban and other terrorists who are being hit all across the country, from Karachi in the south to Khyber in the northwest.
As military jets killed as many as 21 militants in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency on Saturday, police and security forces also took on militants in Karachi where five suspected militants were killed and six arrested.
A significant success came in Peshawar suburbs where elite police and FC in a joint operation took out five militants, including key commander Mustafa alias Manan of Darra Adamkhel Taliban who is said to be a brother of one of the masterminds of the Army Public School attack. Two security personnel were also martyred in the battle with hardened terrorists.
Official sources said the clash took place at a cricket ground in Bazargari area of FR Peshawar. On receiving information that some companions of attackers on Army Public School and College (APS&C) were present near Machani bridge, police and FC personnel rushed to the site.
Upon seeing them the militants started firing on the security personnel, triggering a clash in which Manan and his four companions were killed. Commander Mustafa alias Manan is a brother of Umar Mansoor, the alleged mastermind of the Peshawar school massacre. Umar Mansoor belongs to Adezai tribe and is the head of TTP Darra Adamkhel chapter.
Three other militants killed in the encounter were identified as Hidayat alias Salim, Sayar Khan and Ameer Nawaz, while the identity of one militant was not ascertained. Sayar had reportedly facilitated the Tuesday’s school attack. Commander Sayar Khan, who belonged to TTP’s Mohamd Agency chapter, is also said to have been involved in kidnapping of the 23 FC men who were later beheaded somewhere in Mohmand Agency.
The sources said these militants were on the run following the recent military operations while the group’s head is hiding somewhere in Afghanistan. The ISPR, media wing of the army has also confirmed the killing of five militants in encounter with security forces in FR Peshawar.
During the exchange of fire, Sub-Inspector of Elite Force Ishrat Yar Khan and FC Lance Naik Meera Jan, Naik Dil Faraz and Hawaldar Ziaullah sustained injuries. They were rushed to the hospital, however, SI Ishrat Yar and Lance Naik Meera Jan died.
Heavy contingents of police and FC continued search operation in the area. Later, the funeral prayer of Ishrat Yar Khan was offered at Police Lines Peshawar and he was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard.
As many as 21 militants were killed in airstrikes, carried out by PAF jet fighters in Tarkho Kas and Sandapaal, the far-flung areas of Tirah Valley, official sources informed.
The sources said the warplanes in the ongoing Khyber One operation pounded suspected sanctuaries of militants and inflicted heavy casualties on them. Seven hideouts of the militants were also demolished in the bombardment.
In Karachi, five more suspected militants of banned outfits were killed during separate encounters while six militants were arrested during ongoing targeted raids. In the wee hours of Saturday, two suspected TTP members were killed during an encounter with the police in Mauripur area.
The encounter took place when Anti-Extremists Cell of the Crime Investigation Department conducted a raid on a tip-off about the presence of the militants at their hideout near Hawks Bay Road. DSP Ali Raza said that during the raid the militants resorted to indiscriminate firing. Two militants were killed while some of their companions managed to escape.
Though the killed militants have yet to be identified and their bodies shifted to morgue for identification purpose, DSP Raza claimed they belonged to Khan Zaman Mehsud group of TTP. Earlier, late on Friday night, another three TTP militants were killed in an exchange of fire with the Rangers near Ghaggar Phatak area.
Rangers also claimed to have apprehended six militants during a series of targeted raids in different parts of city including Majeed Colony, SITE and Frontier Colony. Ranger’s spokesperson said that the arrested militants belonged to the TTP and were nabbed in raids at their hideouts while weapons were also recovered from their possession.
During the last 72 hours, 12 Taliban have been killed by Rangers in three separate encounters in Manghopir, Mauripur and Ghaggar Phatak areas while two more militants were killed.