SHEIKHUPURA: Seven suspected militants were killed in an `encounter` with the personnel of the CounterTerrorism Department (CTD) near a level crossing in the Bhiki area in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Reports said the CTD received information about the presence of 10 militants in an outhouse near the Barrianwalla level crossing, some 20km from here. When the CTD personnel surrounded the hideout, the militants opened fire at them.

The fire was returned and when the guns fell silent, seven attackers were found dead. Three others managed to escape, the reports said.

The CTD claimed that the militants were killed by the bullets of their accomplices.

The CTD personnel seized five kilograms of explosives, three motorcycles, three Kalashnikovs, two hand-grenades, four pistols and around 350 cartridges.

However, the area people and officials of the police station concerned said they were unaware of any such incident.

According to sources, the ages of suspects were between 20 and 25 years.

The names of the deceased could not be ascertained and their bodies were kept in a mortuary amid tight security.

AFP quoted the police as saying the deceased belonged to the banned Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan and Lashkari-Jhangvi.

They were accused of planning attacks on security posts and law enforcement agencies in Punjab.