Radd-ul-Fasaad: Forces gun down four militants in Mastung

Recover automatic weapons, grenades and explosives from their hideouts

ISLAMABAD: Security forces claimed to have killed four suspected militants in a gun battle in the Kanak area of Mastung district and recovered a huge quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives from their hideouts.

On a tip-off, the police, in coordination with Anti-Terrorism Force and Counter Terrorism Department personnel, conducted a search operation in Killi Yaro in Kanak area late on Thursday night, according to officials.

Sources said that hundreds of security personnel were deployed in the area, adding that they cordoned off the village and launched the search operation.

Aware of the presence of security forces in the area, armed militants started firing to pave the way for their escape, sources said, adding that security forces took position and returned fire.



Heavy gun battle went on for over three hours, they added.

“Four suspected terrorists have been killed in heavy exchange of fire in Killi Yaro,” a senior police officer said, adding that huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from the hideouts of the terrorists, which included automatic weapons, grenades and explosives.

After killing the four suspected militants, security forces continued the operation in the area till early hours of Friday.

“Door-to-door search continued till the early hours of Friday and many suspects were taken into custody for interrogation,” official sources said, adding that the alleged terrorists killed in the gun battle belonged to a banned sectarian outfit, which was involved in the Civil Hospital suicide attack, targeting police and FC personnel, and kidnapping Secretary Higher Education Balochistan Abdullah Jan.

Sources further said that security forces had conducted the operation in the area to chase the terrorists out of their hideouts on the information provided by an accused, who had been arrested by the security forces two months back in connection with the Civil Hospital attack, police training college attack and Shah Noorani Shrine bombing.



Sources said that he was also killed along with three others during the exchange of fire.

The bodies of all the four suspected terrorists were shifted to Quetta late on Thursday night for autopsy and medico-legal formalities. Their identities could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.

Lauding the police for their successful operation, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri said that the police and personnel of other security forces rendered great sacrifices for the restoration of peace and order in the province.

Inspector General of Police, Ahsan Mehmoob briefed the chief minister about the details of the operation.

BLA commander among 22 insurgents surrender in Quetta

 

At least 22 insurgents surrendered to security forces on Friday during a ceremony held at Frontier Corps (FC) Madadgar Headquarters in Quetta, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Ainuddin, a Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) commander, was among the insurgents who laid down their arms.

According to the military’s media wing, the Friday's ceremony was a sequel to a number of events held in different parts of Balochistan during which hundreds of insurgents have surrendered including a militant commander Balkh Sher Badeeni who laid down his weapon in January.

Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti and a large number of civil and military officials were present on the occasion.