Five officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), including a sub-inspector, were martyred while five more were injured after an exchange of fire during a police raid to apprehend wanted criminals in Chilas, the district headquarter for Diamer, officials said on Tuesday.
According to police, the incident took place a few kilometres from Chilas, at Ronai village, during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Two civilians were also killed during the shootout, they said.
Gilgit-Baltistan police spokesperson Mubarak Jan said that the operation were carried out after police received information that criminals wanted for murder and attempted murder were seeking shelter at a house. The operation was carried at approximately two in the morning, he said.
He added that police cordoned off the area immediately after the incident took place and were carrying out raids in adjoining areas. The spokesperson said that the bodies of the martyred officials had been shifted to a nearby hospital.
The martyred officials were identified as Sub-Inspector Sohrab Khan, Zia, Junaid Karim, Ghulam Murtaza and Ishtiaq Ahmed while Inspector Nabi Wali Khan was among the five that were injured.
The spokesperson added that the civilians killed during the crossfire were identified as Basharat and Izharullah. He maintained that police were investigating the incident from all angles.
GB caretaker Chief Minister Mir Afzal has sought a report on the incident from IG Dr Mujeebur Rehman and directed that the accused be arrested immediately.
