At least 10 Baloch insurgents were killed and several injured in a deadly clash with paramilitary Frontier Corps troops in the Behlol area near Chamalang coalfield on Monday.
Sources said that paramilitary troops were setting up a checkpoint near Behlol when insurgents opened fire on them. The troops retaliated and in the ensuing gunfight 10 militants were killed and several injured.
Behlol is the area where 15 FC troops, including a Major, were killed in an ambush by insurgents about a month ago.
According to a report from Chamalang, paramilitary troops launched a fresh operation in the area against insurgents from the Baloch Marri tribe. Reports say that scores of suspected insurgents were also detained during the operation and were shifted to an undisclosed location for questioning.
According to a press statement issued by an FC spokesperson early on Monday, paramilitary troops have purged the Behlol area of insurgents and the coalmine project will start soon.
The Chamalang coalfield is considered a prestigious project of the Pakistan Army and it has been working under strict security.
FC troops form the outer security cordon of the coalfield ensuring security of the workforce, including engineers and officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2012.
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