G-B jailbreak: Search operation under way for escaped militants

Gilgit city remains in lock-down security forces searched for the accused in the Nanga Parbat massacre

A search operation is under way to arrest two fugitives who managed to break a siege of security forces, a day after breaking out of Gilgit’s district prison, according to a BBC Urdu report.

SHO Jatial police Abdul Hadi told BBC Urdu that a search operation is under way in Gilgit under SSP Gilgit Ishaq’s leadership.

The militants – Habibur Rehman and Liaquat alias Akhtar – fled from the prison in a daring pre-dawn jailbreak on Friday which also left one militant, Bilal, dead and another, Dilbar, injured.

Read: G-B jailbreak: Escaped militants break siege, elude capture

Habibur Rehman was involved in the 2013 slaying of nine foreign climbers and their Pakistani guide at a base camp of Nanga Parbat mountain. Liaquat was accused in a deadly attack on investigators of the massacre in Chilas region.

Read: Gunmen kill 9 foreign tourists, guide in Gilgit-Baltistan

On Saturday morning, following a tip, police carried out a search operation in Gilgit’s Minawar area. Following a cross-fire in which the SHO was shot in his arm, the fugitives managed to escape in the cover of the night.

SHO Hadi added that he hoped they would manage to arrest the fugitives during the search operation.

Read: Nanga Parbat attack suspect escapes from prison

Home Secretary Sibtain Ahmed told The Express Tribune on Friday, “Four militants imprisoned in the Gilgit district jail attempted to escape. They were countered by the forces but two of them succeeded in their attempt.”

“One of the inmates was killed and a second injured,” he added.

The escaped militants were pinned down by security forces in a compound in the Minawar area, some 15 kilometres away from Gilgit, in the early hours of Saturday. The militants opened fire on the security forces, injuring police officer Ghulam Muhammad.

The siege was laid by the police, aided by paramilitary Gilgit Scouts, and army troops. “The siege remained in place throughout the night but they (the militants) somehow managed to escape,” an official told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity. “The security forces conducted a door-to-door search in the area – but to no avail,” he added.

Meanwhile, Gilgit city remained in lock-down as law enforcers and security forces searched for the escaped militants. All entry and exit points to the city have been sealed to deny the escapees an opportunity to sneak out.