Dera Ismail Khan (Agencies): In a decisive crackdown against terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and district police conducted joint operations on Friday targeting militant hideouts in the Daraban and Kot Isa Khan areas of Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to officials, the raids led to an intense exchange of fire between law enforcement personnel and the terrorists. Several terrorists were reported killed and injured in the gunbattle. The remaining suspects, under sustained police fire, managed to escape into nearby forested areas.
In a significant development, security forces also apprehended two facilitators of the terrorists during the operation. They have been taken to an undisclosed location for further interrogation.
Authorities confirmed that the group targeted in the operation was responsible for a recent attack on police personnel in the Daraban area just a day earlier.
Security forces continue to comb the area, while search operations have been intensified to locate the fleeing militants.