QUETTA: Five suspects allegedly belonging to a gang of kidnappers have been killed in an operation launched by the counter-terrorism department and police personnel in the Surkhab Afghan refugee camp area of Pishin district.

Officials said that the suspects were killed in an exchange of fire with the security personnel when the latter launched the operation in the area on Saturday evening.

According to them, the men killed in the operation were involved in the kidnapping of Awami National Party’s (ANP) senior leader Malik Obaidullah Kasi.

Mr Kasi, who was a member of the ANP’s central committee, was kidnapped from his Killi Katter village in Kuchlak area on gunpoint. His body was found in Saranan Bazaar area of Pishin last week.

Officials say deceased were behind kidnapping of ANP’s Obaidullah Kasi

The officials said the case of kidnapping and killing of the ANP leader was a big challenge for the police. For this case, they added, the police used scientific investigative techniques.

According to them, after Mr Kasi was abducted his kidnappers made calls to his family and demanded ransom for his release. After a few days, the police arrested a suspect, identified as Jumma Gul, who confessed to his involvement in the kidnapping of the ANP leader.

On the basis of information provided by the suspect the security personnel launched the operation.

When the security personnel reached the area to launch the operation, members of the gang opened fire on them. The personnel returned fire and the exchange of fire between them continued for about an hour during which the members of the gang were killed. Some other members of the gang managed to escape.

The dead were identified as Mohammad Hanif, Shah Fahad, Jumma Gul, Mohammad Akram and Mohammad Saleem. The personnel recovered two SMGs, two TT pistols and three hand grenades from the gang’s hideout. A vehicle was also recovered.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2021