QUETTA: Two suspected militants belonging to a banned organisation were killed in an encounter with police in Darakhshan area of the city on Friday night.

Official sources said that the two militants riding a motorcycle opened fire on a police vehicle patrolling in the area. After the police returned fire, the attackers fled and took refuge in a house.

The police cordoned off the area and when they were moving close to the house the militants opened fire on them from inside the house. After an exchange of fire for about an hour, police killed the two men.

The police identified the suspects as Naseer Ahmed and Nasibullah.

DIG Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema said they belonged to the banned United Baloch Army (Sarfraz Bangulzai group).

The two militants are said to be involved in a bomb blast at the Meezan Chowk in January 2013 and a blast in the Jaffar Express at the Sibi Railway Station in April 2014. The incidents claimed 20 lives.

The police seized explosives, detonator cord, detonators and IED from the possession of the two men.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017