KARACHI: At least two suspected terrorists were killed in a shootout with Rangers personnel in Karachi's Mai Gari Northern Bypass area, said a press release issued by the paramilitary force Wednesday.Acting on a tip-off, the Rangers conducted a surgical operation targeting the hideouts of suspected terrorists. Upon seeing the Rangers personnel, the suspected terrorists opened fire at the paramilitary force, reads the statement.
Rangers personnel responded with retaliatory firing as a result of which two suspected terrorists were killed.
The targeted terrorists, whose identities were being ascertained, were involved in recent killings of law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel, the paramilitary force said.
The Rangers personnel also arrested at least 10 suspects during raids in different areas of the city within the last 24 hours, DawnNews reported.
Also read: Terrorists kill two army personnel in Karachi
The raids come just a day after two masked men on a motorbike shot dead two army personnel as they targeted a Military Police jeep on MA Jinnah Road, one of the city’s busiest arteries, sowing fear and panic in the neighbourhood.
The incident set alarm bells ringing in the security and political administration as Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah called Corps Commander, Karachi, Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, to convene a meeting on Wednesday to discuss progress on implementation of the National Action Plan.
Reward for tip-off
In a statement, the Rangers announced a Rs2.5 million reward for the person who can provide information leading to the suspects behind the attack on the military personnel yesterday.
The paramilitary force urged citizens to provide them any information leading to the attackers on their 1101 helpline via call or SMS. The identity of the person providing the information will be kept confidential, said the statement.
Karachi operation
Rangers is currently leading a grand operation against criminal elements in Karachi.
The ‘operation’ against criminal elements in Pakistan’s commercial hub was initiated back in September 2013 after the federal cabinet empowered Rangers to lead a targeted advance with the support of police against criminals already identified by federal military and civilian agencies for their alleged involvement in targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion and terrorism in Karachi.
A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the "vast suburbs of Karachi", to prevent what the military spokesperson said were "sneaking terrorist attacks".