QUETTA Oct 11: Rockets and mortar shells rained on the Uch gas field area of the Dera Bugti district, about 400 km from here, on Monday.

According to reports reaching here, the rockets and shells were fired from a nearby hilltop, apparently targeting the check posts set up by the Frontier Corps and Rangers to protect the gas field and related installations.

Frontier Corps and Rangers personnel returned fire and an exchange of rockets and shells continued for about four hours. Sources said that at least three rockets exploded near a mess of the Oil and Gas Development Corporation and an FC mess and caused injuries to some people.

"Around 100 rocket were fired by unknown men at the field," Mohammad Abbas, the Tehsildar of Sui, told Dawn. He did not confirm any casualty. Shamim Shamsi adds from Sukkur: The rockets and shells were fired by some Bugti tribesmen, Brig Rizwan of the security force deployed at the Uch gas field, said. The outlaws, he added, escaped after the security forces retaliated.