Pakistan police kills seven militants in shootout

LAHORE: At least seven Taliban and LeJ terrorists were killed in a fierce gun battle between police and militants in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said today.

A gang of at least 12 terrorists were making their way to Sharqpur near Lahore when exchange of fire took place between the militants and police personnel, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police said.

The militant resorted to firing on seeing the police, leading to an intense encounter in which seven militants were killed, while the rest of them escaped due to darkness, police said.

Police also seized 2kg explosives from the possession of the terrorists.

Officials said that the killed militants were linked with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and anti-Shiite Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group.

Pakistan has increased anti-militants operations after recent attack by Taliban at a university in Charsadda town in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province where 21 people were killed, mostly students.