QUETTA: Six suspected militants were killed and several others injured in a gunbattle in Awaran district on Tuesday. A paramilitary soldier also lost his life in the clash.

A Frontier Corps spokesman said that acting on information about the presence of militants in the Mashkay area the FC undertook a search operation which led to the exchange of fire.

“Six militants and one FC personnel were killed,” he said.

The spokesman said the militants were involved in attacking convoys of security forces and killing innocent people. They also kidnapped people for ransom.

Also read: Mastermind of Shikarpur carnage killed in Quetta

He said that FC recovered arms and ammunition and communication devices from the militants’ hideout.

Eight militants surrender Meanwhile, eight militants surrendered before the FC in the Mawand area of Kohlu district.

According to the FC spokesman, eight members of the banned Balochistan Republican Army and their leader Shekh alias Chala Resh surrendered in the presence of Commandant of Mawand Rifles Col Masroor-ur-Rehman and tribal elders, including Khan Mohammad Masori.

The militants also handed over their weapons.

The spokesman said that the militants were involved in attacks on security forces, blowing up gas pipelines and targeting civilians.

Published in Dawn March 25th , 2015

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