QUETTA: At least five suspected militants were killed in a gun battle with security forces in the Tilli area of Sibi district on Tuesday evening.

According to officials, Frontier Corps and intelligence personnel launched an operation in the area on information about the presence of militants there. During the search operation, the militants attacked the security personnel who cordoned off the area and returned fire.

A heavy exchange of fire took place which continued for several hours.

“Five militants belonging to a banned outfit were killed during the heavy gun battle,” a spokesman for the Balochistan FC said, adding that security forces also destroyed three hideouts of the militants in the mountainous area and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including rocket launchers, improvised explosive devices, landmines and submachine guns.

The spokesman claimed that the militants killed during the operation were involved in attacks on trains and convoys of security forces as well as other heinous crimes.

On Monday, two suspected militants were also killed in the Sartaf area of Dera Bugti district in an armed clash with security forces.

The FC spokesman said two militants had also been arrested and five hideouts destroyed.

He said the FC and intelligence personnel also conducted raids in the Sangan area of Sibi and seized rocket launchers, IEDs, submachine guns and other explosives.

Published in Dawn November 30th, 2016