QUETTA, April 26: A soldier of the Frontier Corps was killed and nine other persons were injured in a heavy exchange of fire between the law enforcement agencies and armed tribesmen resisting operation against poppy growers in Gulistan area, some 90km north from here, on Saturday.

Official sources said the injured tribesmen were admitted to the Civil Hospital Qila Abdullah for treatment and the FC men shifted to the CMH Quetta.

Unconfirmed reports put the death toll to four, claiming that three tribesmen were also killed in the firing. Official sources, however, did not confirm three more deaths. “We have received reports about more deaths but it could not immediately be ascertained as firing is continuing in the area,” a senior official of the provincial government told Dawn. He said the injured include FC and levies men.

All vehicular traffic has been suspended between Quetta and Chaman, bordering Afghanistan, by the Frontier Crops.

Official sources said some half a dozen armed tribesmen had been arrested and weapons recovered from them.

The said the armed men of Gahbizai, a clan of Achakzai tribe, took position on the hilltops in the morning and started firing on the law enforcement agencies when the personnel of the Anti-Narcotics Force and the Frontier Corps launched operation in village Pinakai of Gulistan Tehsil on Saturday morning.

The personnel of the Frontier Corps, levies and the Balochistan Reserve Police returned fire after taking position in the area. During the exchange of fire, a soldier of the Frontier Corps received bullet injuries and died before getting any medical aid. He was identified as Gul Mohammad.

Sources said both the tribesmen and law enforcement agencies used heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and machineguns. Till the filing of this report, heavy firing was reportedly continuing.

“Situation is very tense and firing is on from both sides,” officials said, and added that reinforcement had been dispatched to the troubled area.

In the meantime, the ANF and the provincial government have said the operation against poppy growers would not be stopped due to the resistance of some elements. “We will not abandon operation against poppy growers,” a senior ANF official told Dawn.