QUETTA: Three suspected militants were killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Awaran district, official sources said on Saturday.

They said 40 suspected militants belonging to banned outfits had been taken into custody in combing operations launched in Quetta, Mastung and Awaran districts on Friday night.

The operations were jointly launched by the Frontier Corps, police and an intelligence agency on information about the presence of militants.

In the Tartej area of Awaran, a search operation was under way when militants hiding in the mountains opened fire on security personnel. The personnel returned fire and an exchange of fire between them continued for about two hours. The three militants killed in the gunbattle were identified as Noor Bakhsh, Shah Murad and Dildar.

In the combing operation launched in the Kanak area of Mastung district, 27 suspected militants were arrested. Nine of the arrested people are foreigners and four are believed to be facilitators of the terrorist group which planned the suicide bombing outside the Civil Hospital in Quetta.

According to an FC spokesperson, 13 suspects were arrested in the operation launched in Kharotabad, a locality on the outskirts of Quetta, and its surrounding areas. The operation began on Friday night and continued till Saturday morning.

He said 24 pistols and two rifles were seized from the possession of the arrested people.

The official sources said FC personnel arrested two suspects and destroyed three hideouts of militants in the Kalri area of Dera Bugti district.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016