Paramilitary troops kill five, arrest three alleged militants in Turbat

17 armed men in Dera Bugti surrender their arms to FC as part of government's general amnesty scheme

QUETTA: Paramilitary troops killed five suspected Baloch militants after an alleged exchange of fire during a search operation in Turbat, Kech district of Balochistan in the early hours of Saturday.

Frontier Corps (FC) spokesperson Khan Wasay said that militants open fired at FC personnel during search operations in Pidarak and firing lasted more than an hour.

“FC retaliated to attackers and besieged the area. At least five militants were killed and three others have been arrested,” he said.Talking to The Express Tribune, he said: “Five militants were killed, while eight others have been arrested.”

The dead militants were identified as suspected commanders of the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). FC further claimed to have recovered arms and ammunition from their possession.

Of those killed, four were identified as Akram Murad Hasil, Islam Murad Hasil, Kamal Kamalan and Sameer. Three these were residents of Pidarak while Sameer belonged to Pasni.

In contrast, FC personnel claimed that some of their vehicles sustained damage due to the intense firing by militants.

Security forces have in recent months launched search operations in different parts of Kech and Panjgur districts. However, Baloch nationalists claim that the operation is being carried out against unarmed Baloch political workers.

Armed Baloch men surrender to FC

As many as 17 armed men affiliated with the banned Baloch Republican Army (BRA) surrendered before Frontier Corps in Dera Bugti on Saturday.

The men laid down their arms before the Bhambore Rifle’s Colonel Fiaz Farooq in Dera Bugti.

According to a statement issued by FC, the militants were previously members of the banned Baloch Republican Army (BRA). “The militants promised to live as law abiding citizen and will never be involved in anti-state activities,” read the statement. Officials of FC and local tribal elders were present on the occasion.

A number of armed men have surrendered following the announcement of a general amnesty by government of Balochistan. “Government has offered general amnesty which is helping the forces to restore peace in Balochistan,” the FC statement added.