Balochistan militancy: FC kills 5 BLA militants in Barkhan raid

The dead militants include key commander Suhbat.

QUETTA: The paramilitary Frontier Corps claims to have killed five militants belonging to the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), including a key commander, in Barkhan district on Wednesday.

“Acting on a tip-off, an FC team raided a BLA hideout in the Chapar area of Barkhan,” a spokesman for FC said. The militants hiding inside were offered to surrender, but they opened fire on the paramilitary troops.

The FC personnel returned the fire and in the ensuing gunfight BLA commander Suhbat Baloch and his four colleagues were killed, the spokesperson said. Three BLA insurgents were also taken into custody.

The slain terrorists were involved in countless attacks on security forces, the spokesman said. “The arrested persons have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.”

Two persons kidnapped six months ago were also recovered from the hideout where Light Machine Guns, AK-47 assault rifles and anti-Pakistan seditious material were also found.

Meanwhile, in separate search operations, the FC detained 16 suspects in Turbat, Panjgur and Sui for questioning.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2016.