QUETTA, June 29: Three tribesmen were killed and two others suffered injuries in a gunbattle with security forces in Nal area of the troubled Kohlu district on Thursday night. Official sources said that armed tribesmen attacked a position of security forces in the area with heavy weapons. Security personnel returned fire, killing three tribesmen and injuring two.

“The gunbattle continued for more than two hours and both sides used heavy weapons against each other,” the sources said, adding that the assailants had been able to escape.

Tribal sources claimed that security forces had suffered huge losses in the fighting in Chapy Kach area close to Nal. They claimed that at least six FC men were killed and three suffered injuries in the attack on an FC checkpost.

However, official sources denied the tribesmen’s claim and said that no soldier had been killed or wounded in the attack.