6 militants killed in shootout with police in central Pakistan

At least six militants were killed in an exchange of firing with police in Pakistan's central Layyah district on Wednesday, local Urdu media reported.

Geo News said that Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of police conducted a search operation acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding presence of militants in Chobara area of Layyah, a district located in the country's east Punjab province.

The militants attacked the police party with hand grenades and also opened fire at them when the cops tried to raid their hideout, during the search operation in the area.

Six militants were killed in the shoot out while their two accomplices managed to flee the scene.

Police said that the militants belonged to Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and were planning to carryout terrorist activities in the Punjab province.

The bodies of the killed militants were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Layyah for autopsy.

The CTD personnel also recovered arms including suicide jackets, guns and hand grenades from the militants' hideout that was sealed for further investigations.

Police has sped up the intelligence-based-operations (IBOs) in the province on the directive of the Country's PM Nawaz Sharif, following a blast at a public park in March this year which killed over 80 people and injured hundreds others.

At least 26 militants were killed in various IBOs by police in Punjab in May, according to Xinhua tally. Endit