Five officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), including a sub-inspector, were martyred while four others injured after an exchange of fire during a raid to apprehend wanted criminals in Chilas, the district headquarter for Diamer, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident took place in Ronai village, a few kilometres from Chilas, during early hours of Tuesday morning. Two civilians were also killed during the shootout while the suspected criminals managed to flee the scene, they said.
Gilgit-Baltistan police spokesperson Mubarak Jan said that the operation was carried out after police received information that criminals wanted for murder were seeking shelter at a house. GB Counterterrorism Force AIG Hafeezur Rehman told a private TV channel that after police personnel entered the house and started searching a man present inside, at least three suspects hiding in other places of the house opened indiscriminate fire on the security officials, leading to the casualties. During the exchange of fire, two women police personnel narrowly escaped the bullets, the AIG added.
Police cordoned off the area immediately after the incident took place and were carrying out raids in the adjoining areas. The bodies of the martyred officials had been shifted to a nearby hospital.
Protestors, who had blocked the Karakoram Highway after two people were killed in the exchange of fire, agreed to open the road for traffic after successful negotiation with the local administration officials. The officials assured the protestors it would conduct an inquiry into the matter within the next two days.
The protestors had blocked the highway, saying that the police raided the area based on false information and killed a student Izharullah. The relatives of the deceased said a proper investigation into the shooting incident should be conducted.
