QUETTA: At least 16 security personnel, including an officer, were injured during a search operation in Quetta’s Kali Barat area on Thursday.

The casualties occurred during a security forces’ search operation which turned into a clash. Militants attacked the forces with hand grenades and opened fire on them, resulting in the injuries.

Fayyaz Sumbal, the Deputy Inspector General Police told Dawn.com, police and para-military troops conducted an operation in Kharotabab area of Quetta against militants who were involved in targeted killings and bomb explosion.

He said operation was continued for four hours and when there was no chance of escape, terrorist blew themselves up.

The explosion is also said to have killed members of the militants’ families. Subsequently, the bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta.

Personnel from the Frontier Corps (FC), Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF), Balochistan police and intelligence agencies participated in the operation which started at 5 am.

An intelligence official who requested not to be named told the Dawn.com that two militants were from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a Sunni militant group. He said both were high profile militants living in a hidden house along with their family in Kharotabad. He said weapons were also recovered from the spot.

Security forces declared the area ‘clear’ after the operation concluded.