QUETTA: Three suspected militants were killed in a clash with security forces here on Sunday. A soldier was injured.

Elsewhere in Balochistan six paramilitary personnel suffered injuries in another shootout and a rocket attack.

According to official sources, personnel of an intelligence agency conducted a search operation in Hazarganji, a suburb of Quetta, on the tip-off about the presence of some suspects.

Security personnel cordoned off the area and started combing the area. In the meantime, gunmen opened fire on soldiers who fired back.

The ensuing exchange of fire lasted for an hour and ended on the death of three suspected militants and injuries to a soldier.

“The slain suspects belonged to a banned militant organisation. They were carrying a bomb to plant it (somewhere) in Quetta city,” official sources claimed.

A local made bomb weighing 8kg, grenades and two pistols were found on the bodies of the dead, they said.

The injured soldier was taken to the Combined Military Hospital.

In Tump area of Kech district, four security personnel, including an officer, were injured in a rocket attack.

Sources said that a convoy of Frontier Corps (FC) was passing through the area when it came under an attack launched by militants from nearby mountains, using rocket launchers and heavy guns.

A vehicle of the paramilitary force, which bore the brunt of the attack, was damaged and its four occupants suffered injuries.

Security personnel returned fire. Other soldiers deployed in the area rushed to the place of the attack and took the injured to a hospital.

A search operation was launched in the area.

In Nabi Killi area near Dera Bugti, two personnel of FC were injured in an exchange of fire with militants during a raid on their hideout.

A spokesman for the FC said that on information about the presence of militants, paramilitary troops cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.

Militants opened fire that was returned by security personnel.

“Two security personnel were injured,” the spokesman said, adding that three wanted militants involved in attacks on security forces and blasts at gas pipelines and installations were arrested.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016