Wanted PKK terrorist neutralized in eastern Turkey

By Muhammed Boztepe

ANKARA (AA) - A wanted PKK terrorist was neutralized in Turkey's eastern Bingol province, the Interior Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The terrorist was identified as Harun Baslik, codenamed Agit Cektar. He was neutralized in a joint operation by Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT) and the Turkish Gendarmerie forces, said the statement.

Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralize" in their statements to imply that the terrorist in question either surrendered or was killed or captured.

He was wanted in the gray category of the Interior Ministry's list with a bounty of 300,000 Turkish liras (roughly $53,000). The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including many women, children, and infants.

*Writing by Burak Bir