GWADAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said on Thursday it had killed four suspected terrorists in an intelligence-based operation in the Turbat town of Baloch­istan’s Kech district.

According to a CTD spokesperson, the operation was launched based on intelligence indicating the presence of the individuals near a bus terminal on Pasni Road.

As the CTD’s team approached the site, the armed people launched an attack using automatic weapons and hand grenades.

The raiding party retur­ned fire, leading to a prolonged and heavy exch­a­nge that resulted in the killing of four individuals, the spokesperson said, add­ing that some of the assailants managed to esc­ape to the south of Turbat under the cover of darkness.

Following the operation, the CTD team found two sub-machine guns, a pistol, 8kg of explosives, a hand grenade, two motorbikes, a motorcycle fitted with an improvised explosive device, and a substantial quantity of ammunition.

The bodies of the individuals killed in the operation were handed over to the local police, who subsequently transported them to the district hospital. One of the deceased was identified as Balaach by his family.

Officials of the local police and other law enforcement agencies said they were actively investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the family of Balaach and members of civil society staged a sit-in at Shaheed Fida Ahmed Chowk, accompanied by the deceased’s body.

They alleged that Balaach had been apprehended by the CTD last month and presented before the local court, which remanded him in police custody for 10 days.

The aggrieved family has urged relevant authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Balaach’s death, vowing to continue the sit-in until their demands are met.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2023