QUETTA, July 27: At least 11 people were killed, including five paramilitary troops, and several others were injured in a gunbattle between security forces and drug smugglers in the Baracha area of Chagai district, some 400 kilometres west of here.

Commandant of the Chagai Militia Col Shakeel Imtiaz was also among the injured, official sources said.

“Five security personnel were killed in the four-hour-long gun battle,” Provincial Home Secretary, Humayun Khan said, adding that the other side also suffered casualties.

According to the sources, the security personnel were on a routine patrol along the border when they were ambushed near the Ghaffar Shah village.

Five men belonging to the Frontier Corps and Army were killed in the ensuing gun battle while at least six smugglers were also reported to have been killed.

The injured men were taken to a hospital in Dalbandin.