Three LeJ militants killed in Quetta

QUETTA: Three militants associated with a banned sectarian outfit were killed during a search operation in Quetta on Thursday hours after four paramilitary soldiers were shot dead.

Balochistan Frontier Corps (FC) spokesman Khan Wassey said security force personnel carried out an intelligence-based raid in Link Badini Cross of Saryab, where the three militants of Lashkar-e Jhangvi (LeJ) were killed in a shoot out.



The militants were said to be the facilitators in the recent targeted killing cases of police and FC personnel. “Operations will continue to track their accomplices,” Wasay said.

Four paramilitary personnel and four policemen were gunned down in Quetta some 48 hours prior to the operation. The banned LeJ had claimed responsibility for the killings.



More than 150 suspects have been rounded up by the FC in several search operations.

Pillion-riding ban

In view of the deteriorating law and order situation, the Balochistan Home Department slapped a one-month ban on motorcycle pillion riding in Quetta. Brandishing openly and displaying weapons has also been banned.



At a high-level meeting called after the sudden spike in terrorist attacks, CM Sanaullah Zehri directed the authorities to speed up work on the installation of security cameras, according to the Quetta Safe City project. Several military and civil officials were present at the huddle.

About 1,400 CCTV cameras are to be installed in several areas of the provincial capital with scanners at all entry and exit points.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2016.