ISLAMABAD, May 17 (Xinhua) -- The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Pakistan police claimed on Sunday morning to have killed four Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Bahawalpur district in the country's eastern Punjab province.
According to a spokesperson of the CTD, the security personnel conducted an operation on an intelligence tip-off in a forest near Azam Chowk area of Bahawalpur in the wee hours of Sunday.
At least four terrorists were killed in the exchange of fire while their three accomplices managed to escape from the site.
All four terrorists were Pakistani nationals and were working for the IS, said the spokesperson, adding that the slain terrorists were planning to attack a religious place in the coming days.
Police have also recovered automatic rifles, thousands of live rounds, hand grenades and other weapons from their custody.
A search operation has been launched to arrest the militants who managed to slip away by taking advantage of the darkness.
