The terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan Team in Lahore in 2009 proved to be a black day for Pakistan Cricket as it failed to host any international teams on soil after that. Seven years later Pakistan Police tasted success in bringing the culprits to book when they engaged and killed the four Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Lahore terrorists who were allegedly involved in the attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009 in an encounter during the wee hours of Sunday.
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Representational image of Gaddafi stadium. News18
The encounter was carried out by the CID Team of Punjab police when seven terrorists attacked a them in Manawan area of Lahore where offices of the department are located.
“The police team which came under attack of terrorists returned the fire, killing four of them on the spot while the remaining three managed to escape by taking advantage of darkness,” a CTD spokesman said.
He also said the police have launched a search operation in the area to trace the remaining absconding terrorists. These terrorists were also involved in the Moon market in 2008 and the CID was in lookout for them since then.
Huge cache of weapons and explosives were recovered from their possession.
The chief of LeJ Malik Ishaq, the alleged mastermind of the 2009 attack, was killed last year in an encounter with the CID.
In March 2009, a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team to the Gaddafi stadium was attacked by LeJ terrorists with sophisticated weapons and grenades at Liberty Chowk, near Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Seven players of the Sri Lankan team including the then captain Mahela Jayawaredene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana and Chaminda Vaas were injured. In the crossfire that lasted a few minutes six Pakistani policemen escorting the team were also killed.
