By Haydar Toprakci

TUNCELI, Turkey

Turkish security forces have “neutralized” a wanted PKK terrorist in a counterterrorism operation in the country’s east, an official statement said on Wednesday.

“Neutralized” is a term used by Turkish authorities to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In the statement, Tunceli Governor’s Office said gendarmerie forces launched an operation targeting PKK terrorists in artillery shootings.

The wanted terrorist was identified as Ertan Erol, who had a codename Ferhat Dersim and was mentioned in the grey category of the Interior Ministry’s list of wanted terrorist.

The wanted list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted followed by blue, green, orange and grey.

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 some 40,000 people, including women and children.