QUETTA, Oct 3: Three security personnel were killed and two were seriously injured when their convoy was ambushed in the Bhombor area of Kohlu district on Tuesday.
According to sources, the convoy of security forces was going to the Kahan area to defuse landmines planted by tribesmen in a vast area to restrict their movement. When it reached Bhombor mountain range on the border of Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts, unidentified people attacked it, using heavy weapons, including rockets.
As a result, three soldiers were killed on the spot as a rocket hit their pick-up. Two others were injured in the attack. They were taken to the military hospital in Sui where they are said to be in critical condition having received multiple injuries.
After the ambush, security forces took position and returned fire. The ensuing exchange of fire continued for more than half an hour after which the assailants escaped.
Meanwhile, according to an official handout, 100 Marri tribesmen have surrendered with their weapons and renounced militant activities.
A statement issued here said that the militants belonged to Murghlani, Mehkani and Thangiani sub-clans of Ghazini Narri clan of Marri tribe and they had announced support for the government.
They were involved in sabotage and anti-state activities,” official sources said and added that the surrender was facilitated by Hazar Khan Bijarani.
Official sources said that a ceremony in this regard was held in Hasspur that was earlier a ‘big militant camp’ run by Mir Balach Marri, son of veteran Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bukhsh Marri.
However, a spokesman of the Anjuman Ittehad Marri had rejected the report and termed it a drama staged by the government.
In a statement issued here, he said that no Marri militant surrendered and the people shown on media were personnel of levies led by Bijarani, the former guerrilla leader turned into a levies official.
