QUETTA, Jan 5: As the fighting between security forces and tribesmen continued, the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) on Thursday claimed that 10 locals were killed in shelling near the Dera Bugti town on Wednesday night. The district administration said that nine ‘saboteurs’ had been arrested.

JWP spokesman Agha Shahid Hasan Bugti said that 10 people, including two women and four children, were killed in shelling by militiamen at Dinwani village.

He identified the deceased as Omid Bugti, Edu Bugti, Qado Bugti, Darwesh Bugti and children Oran, Ghulam Ali, Fakhruddin, Khadiji and two women.

He said seven children and two women had suffered injuries in the shelling.

The spokesman pointed out that shelling at the Lob area had been intensified at 4:30pm which continued till 6.30pm.

When asked whether ruling Pakistan Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain or some government functionary had approached the JWP high-command to resolve the issue politically, he replied in negative.

Meanwhile, Dera Bugti District Coordination Officer Samad Lasi said that nine miscreants who had entered the Pirkoh gas field to damage the water pumping plant clashed with security forces and in the exchange of fire militiamen overpowered the accused.

He said that two out of the nine arrested outlaws were injured and taken to Sui hospital, adding that a body was found near the site of clash.

He said that arms and ammunition were recovered from the possession of the accused and added that on the lead provided by the accused four landmines were defused.

The DCO said that Marri and Bugti tribesmen were gathering on the Lehri-Dera Bugti Road and added that anti-state elements had established several camps in the area.

Besides, Frontier Corps sources said that two militiamen were injured when their vehicle hit a landmine in the Loti gas filed area.

TRANSMISSION LINE: The Quetta Electric Supply Company said in a statement that saboteurs blew up the 33kv Barkhan-Kohlu transmission line on Thursday morning affecting the supply to Kohlu.