PESHAWAR:Six most-wanted terrorists affiliated with the Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij were killed on Wednesday in a joint operation conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and district police in Lower Dir. According to a CTD press release, the operation was launched after intelligence reports confirmed the presence of a terrorist group in the mountainous areas of Lower Dir. “The group had recently attacked the Badwan Bridge police check post, resulting in the martyrdom of Constable Muhammad Ismail. Following the attack, the CTD and district police immediately began cordoning off the area,” it added. The statement said that when the terrorists emerged from their hideouts with the intention of carrying out another attack, security personnel moved to arrest them. The terrorists opened indiscriminate fire on the police parties, prompting retaliatory action in self-defence. The exchange of fire continued for a considerable period before security forces gained the upper hand. “A subsequent search operation confirmed six terrorists dead. Three of the killed were identified as Khalilur Rehman alias Saddam, Najmuddin alias Abu Janah, and Kifayatullah, while the identities of the remaining three were being determined. Six Kalashnikovs, three hand grenades and numerous rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession,” the CTD release noted.