QUETTA: Armed militants on Tuesday evening killed three policemen and injured the District Police Officer (DPO) Sherani in Balochistan's Loralai district.

Levies sources told Dawn the militants opened indiscriminate fire at the DPO's vehicle in Spira Ragha area of Loralai.

They said the DPO Muhammad Shakir and two police personnel sustained bullet wounds during the attack.

The injured DPO and policemen were initially shifted to a nearby hospital, later on they were moved to Quetta for medical treatment.

The assailants managed to escape in the nearby mountains in Spira Ragha.

Levies said the DPO along with police guards were coming from a meeting with senior police officers in Loralai, when they were ambushed.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack. Sherani, Loralai, Zhob and Killa Saifullah have been considered to be sensitive districts in the aftermath of recent crackdown against militants.

Security forces arrest 12 militants

Meanwhile, as part of continued crackdown against militants in Balochistan, security forces picked up one dozen suspected militants from Uch and Pishin areas of the province.

Spokesman Frontier Corps (FC) said security forces conducted a search operation in Uch area of Naseerabad district and arrested eight militants.

He said security forces recovered arms and ammunition from the possession of the militants who have been shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

The spokesman stated that the militants were involved in attacks on security forces and vital national installations in the area.

The FC also conducted a search operation in Mughtian area of Pishin district.

Sources said the forces recovered four Kalashnikov’s from the possession of the militants, who are said to be affiliated with banned organisations.

Security forces have also foiled a terror bid in Kohlu district, when militants planted a landmine on the roadside which was later defused.