PESHAWAR: The counter-terrorism department killed a militant and arrested five others in an operation in Tela Band area, some 20 kilometres south of the provincial capital, early on Wednesday.

A senior police official told Dawn on condition of anonymity that the operation was carried out after receiving intelligence about the presence of militants in the area.

He said the militants both killed and arrested were Afghan nationals and worked for the banned outfit Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

The official said that the militants used to extort money from the people and attack those refusing to accept those demands.

He said that an intense exchange of fire led to the killing and arrest of militants.

The official said that two militants managed to escape.

He also said that those militants were involved in 22 extortion cases and that they recently demanded Rs5 million payment from Imtiaz Khan, a resident of Urmar Payan area.

“Militants attacked Imtiaz’s brick kiln in the area after his refusal to meet their extortion demand,” he said.

The official said that two Kalashnikovs, six hand grenades, two pistols and ammunitions were seized during a search operation following the exchange of fire between the police and militants.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Akhtar Hayat Khan on Wednesday said Peshawar police should get ready to meet tough challenges they faced.

Addressing a police darbar at Peshawar’s police headquarters, Mr Khan said the police were confronted with a number of challenges.

He said he strongly believed that the province’s police had the ability to enforce the law.

The IGP, however, warned that he won’t spare those found negligent of their duties.

He directed participants to perform duties diligently to defeat the anti-state elements.

Mr Khan said the police would bear the expenses of the bright children of police personnel for education in the Khyber Medical College, Lums, Nust and other leading educational institutions of the country.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2023