DERA MURAD JAMA­­LI: Suspected Balo­­ch militants blew up a gas pipeline in the Loti gas field area of Dera Bugti district, suspen­­ding gas supply to a purification plant on Tuesday.

The Baloch Republican Army (BRA) claimed responsibility for the blast.

According to police, the militants planted explosives under the pipeline in Loti gas filed area and blew it up.

“A big portion of an eight-inch diameter pipeline was blown up by the blast, suspending gas supply to the purification plant from Well No. 10 of Loti gas filed,” police sources said.

The repair work on the damaged pipeline could not be started on Tuesday becau­­se the security clearance was not given by security officials. Sirbaz Baloch, a spokesman for the BRA, told journalists by phone that the BRA was responsible for the pipeline explosion.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014