QUETTA: Four suspected terrorists, including a ringleader, were killed in an exchange of fire during an operation conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of police in the Gohri Kaul area, close to the Pak-Afghan border, on Wednesday.

Arms and ammunition, including a suicide jacket, were seized during the operation, according to a CTD statement.

It explained that a suspect in custody, Ali Mohammad alias Chhota Qari, during the course of investigation disclosed that he along with Abdul Qadeer alias Qadeer Bacha alias Mansoor, Imdadullah alias Gran and Akhtar Jan alias Gudd Mansoor targeted police officials at Killa Abdullah grid station and fled, leaving head constable Mohammad Ismail severely injured.

The suspects were associated with Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan (TJP) group that infiltrated into FC Headquarters in Muslim Bagh on May 12.

Acting on the information provided by the suspect, security forces cordoned off the area and asked them to surrender.

However, the suspects opened indiscriminate fire on the law enforcers. During the shootout, one of the terrorists, wearing a suicide jacket, attempted to detonate but the attempt was thwarted with a sniper shot.

In an ensuing exchange of fire, four terrorists, including Ali Mohammad alias Chhota Qari, were killed.

According to the CTD, the arms and ammunition seized from their hideout included two SMGs, six magazines, 170 live cartridges, one suicide waist weighing around 10kg, three hand grenades, a motorcycle and a car that was allegedly used in the Muslim Bagh attack.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2023