QUETTA: Four suspected militants were killed Tuesday morning during an operation by police and other law enforcement agencies in Bakra Peri area of Quetta, the capital of militancy-hit Balochistan province.

A police official who requested not to be named since he was not authorised to speak to the media told Dawn.com that forces launched a massive pre-dawn operation in Bakra Peri area of Quetta against suspected insurgents involved in a series of terrorism incidents.

Forces also detained four members of the suspected militants’ family including a woman and two children during the operation that lasted over two hours, he said.

Two personnel of the Anti Terrorists Force were also said to be injured during the operation. The injured personnel were rushed to the Combined Military Hospital for medical treatment.

The militants retaliated by firing rockets at the security forces and strongly resisted the operation, said the police official. However the forces effectively condoned off the area and killed the militants.

Rocket launchers, bombs, hand grenades and other arms and ammunition from the spot, claimed the police.

The official said the suspects were involved in a series of sectarian-linked terrorism incidents including bomb blasts and target killings.

This operation comes a day after provincial Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch announced that the government was prepared to hold peace talks with all militants groups operating in Balochistan.