QUETTA: Two suspected militants were killed in a gun battle with personnel of the Counter Terrorism Department in the Hub area of Lasbela district on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the CTD said its personnel had conducted an operation on information about the movement of activists of the banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) in the area. They cordoned off the area and asked the armed militants to surrender.

But the armed men, instead of handing over their arms, started indiscriminate firing. The CTD personnel took positions and returned fire. The heavy exchange of fire continued for over an hour. “Two bodies were found in the area after the firing stopped,” the spokesman said.

The bodies were shifted to a government hospital in Hub for identification. At least three militants managed to escape.

A large quantity of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the hideout of the militants, including two 9MM pistols, 34 rounds with four magazines and two hand grenades.

The spokesman said the militants belonged to the proscribed BLF. The CTD has registered a case and started an investigation.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2021