Suspected militant blows self up in Pakistan's Karachi

Karachi, May 26: A suspected militant blew himself up during a search operation by the paramilitary Rangers in the congested Orangi town here in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi.

Karachi-West Deputy Inspector General Feroze Shah told reporters that the suspected militant blew himself up last night at Pareshan chowk in Faqir colony when Rangers encircled the area and surrounded him.

"He first hurled hand grenades at the rangers personnel and than after a brief exchange of fire blew himself up," Shah said. He said exchange of fire had started in the area after the explosion.

The rangers and police have stepped up their operations in Pakistan's biggest city in recent months after the military started the Zarb-e-Azab offensive against foreign and local terrorists in the northern and tribal areas.

Law enforcement agencies believe that some of the militants have escaped the scene of the military operation and sought refuge in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city and capital of the Sindh province.

PTI