Pro-govt: Six Baloch tribesmen slain in ambush
The tribesmen are said to be part of a pro-govt militia.
QUETTA:
At least six suspected pro-government tribesmen were killed in an ambush by insurgents near the Lope Pirkoh area in the restive Bugti tribal territory on Saturday.
A group of Mondrani tribesmen was travelling to the Lope Pirkoh area from Sui when armed men ambushed them near the Barboz area, killing six people on the spot, sources told The Express Tribune.
The assailants were armed with sophisticated weapons and escaped from the scene unchallenged.
A Dera Bugti-based police official confirmed the incident but did not give details. “The victims were travelling to the Nehal Darbar shrine in the Lope area when they were attacked,” he added.
Another source said that the victims belonged to an Amn Lashkar, a pro-government tribal force, and were attacked by Baloch insurgents. “The attackers also took away weapons from the victims after the attack,” they added.
However, a tribal elder from Sui, Mir Sar Faraz Bugti, said the victims were not members of any Amn Lashkar.
“The victims were unarmed and residents of Sui. They had no affiliation with the Amn Lashkar, a pro-government armed group comprising local tribesmen for restoration of peace in Dera Bugti,” he told reporters.
A heavy contingent of law-enforcement agencies rushed to the spot soon after the incident and mounted a manhunt for the assailants.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, thus far. Security forces moved the bodies to a nearby state-run hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2012.
At least six suspected pro-government tribesmen were killed in an ambush by insurgents near the Lope Pirkoh area in the restive Bugti tribal territory on Saturday.
A group of Mondrani tribesmen was travelling to the Lope Pirkoh area from Sui when armed men ambushed them near the Barboz area, killing six people on the spot, sources told The Express Tribune.
The assailants were armed with sophisticated weapons and escaped from the scene unchallenged.
A Dera Bugti-based police official confirmed the incident but did not give details. “The victims were travelling to the Nehal Darbar shrine in the Lope area when they were attacked,” he added.
Another source said that the victims belonged to an Amn Lashkar, a pro-government tribal force, and were attacked by Baloch insurgents. “The attackers also took away weapons from the victims after the attack,” they added.
However, a tribal elder from Sui, Mir Sar Faraz Bugti, said the victims were not members of any Amn Lashkar.
“The victims were unarmed and residents of Sui. They had no affiliation with the Amn Lashkar, a pro-government armed group comprising local tribesmen for restoration of peace in Dera Bugti,” he told reporters.
A heavy contingent of law-enforcement agencies rushed to the spot soon after the incident and mounted a manhunt for the assailants.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, thus far. Security forces moved the bodies to a nearby state-run hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 11th, 2012.