ISLAMABAD, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Six suspected terrorists were killed Wednesday in a Counter Terrorism Department operation in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, local authorities said Wednesday.
The operation was launched in the Lower Dir district following intelligence reports about the presence of militants linked to a banned terrorist group, according to a statement released by the department.
The statement said the militants were involved in several terrorist activities, including a recent attack on the Badwan Bridge Police Checkpost that killed a police constable.
After locating the suspects in a mountainous area, security forces attempted to arrest them, but the militants opened fire, triggering an exchange of gunfire during which six militants were killed.
Six assault rifles, three hand grenades and a large quantity of ammunition were recovered from the site. A search operation is continuing to track down suspected accomplices who escaped, according to the statement. ■
