KARACHI: The Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, claimed to have killed three suspected militants in an encounter in Lyari`s Chakiwara area in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Two of them belonged to the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and one was associated with the banned Lashl(ar-iJhangvi, according to the paramilitary force.

Acting on a tip-off, the Rangers raidedthe hideouts of `hardcore terrorists` in Tughlag Lane, near Adam Tea Road, in Chakiwara. On seeing the personnel, the suspects opened fire in their bid to flee. It sparked a `heavy exchange` of fire between the gunmen and the paramilitary force in which three militants were killed, said the Rangers spokesperson.

He also claimed that the Rangers seized heavy weapons, ammunition and explosives from their custody. The suspected terrorists were preparing IEDs (improvised explosive devices), headded.

Chakiwara SHO Khan Mohammed Bhatti told Dawn that one Kalashnikov, four kilograms of explosive material, ball bearings andfourjackets to be preparedfor suicide bombings had been seized from their custody.

However, he added, the suspected militants had not been identified so far.

Meanwhile, the Rangers claimed to have arrested a suspected hitman affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement during a raid in Malir.