QUETTA, Feb 24: Two personnel of Frontier Corps and a tribesman were killed in fighting between security forces and armed men near Dera Bugti and in a landmine blast in Pir Koh area, on Friday.
Tribesmen also blew up another gas pipeline in Pir Koh area, while rocket attacks and firing were reported in Kahan and Fazil Chal area of Kohlu district.
The fighting erupted in the area between Loti and Dera Bugti in the evening, resulting the killing of FC personnel and an armed militant. “Security forces were cleaning of landmines along the road linking Loti to Dera Bugti town during which they came under attack,” DCO Dera Bugti, Samad Lasi said. Security forces recovered two sub- machine guns and other weapons from the tribesman killed during the fighting but he could not be identified.
Another FC man killed in the landmine blast was identified as Rehmatullah.
Official sources said unknown tribesmen blew up another pipeline supplying gas to the Pir Koh gas plant from the gas field. The pipeline was empty as Pir Koh plant was already closed last week due to exploding half a dozen pipelines. “Landmines panted in large number preventing engineers and other staff to launch repair of damaged gas pipeline in Loti and Pir Koh,” an official of the Pir Koh gas plant said.
Reports reaching here say that fighting was also reported in Kahan, Fazal Chal, Nal, Triman and Krimo-Wadh areas between security forces and tribesmen. “Security forces continually shelling from their fort in the outskirts of Kahan, Fazal Chal and other areas,” an elder of Marri tribe told this correspondent over telephone. No casualty has been reported in the fighting so far, he said.
GAS SUPPLY CUT: Gas supply to a city area was disrupted on Friday night after unknown people blew up the main valve of a gas pipeline in On Sariab Road.
According to police sources, miscreants planted explosive device under the valve of the pipeline near the Polytechnic Institute and detonated it.
