QUETTA / GWADAR: Seven police personnel have been kidnapped in the troubled Awaran area.

Official sources said here on Wednesday that the incident took place on Eid day when the police personnel, including an officer, were going from Awaran to Lasbela district.

The armed kidnappers took the policemen and their weapons and vehicle along with them.

The officials said that after receiving information about the incident Levies and other law-enforcement agencies launched a search operation in the area.

Later, the kidnappers released the police personnel when security forces blocked all entry and exit points of the area.

However, they took away the vehicle, weapons and uniforms of the policemen.

No-one has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

BLA leader surrenders

A militant leader and six other members of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) surrendered before security officials here on Wednesday.

Abdul Rasool Baloch alias Ilyas and his colleagues handed over their weapons to the officials at a ceremony.

A senior security official said the BLA leader gave up armed resistance against the state and decided to work for the betterment of the people of Balochistan by joining mainstream politics.

He was involved in terrorist attacks in Jiwani and other areas of Makran division, he added.

Abdul Rasool and his colleagues were operating in Pasni, Kolanch, Dasht, Turbat, Mand and several areas of the Mekran division.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2017