QUETTA: Three suspected militants, among them a leader of a banned organisation, were killed in a clash with Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers in Barkhan area of Balochistan on Wednesday. Three others were arrested.

According to an FC spokesman, the soldiers acting on intelligence raided a house used by the suspected militants.

However, he said, “they (militants) opened fire on the raiding party which retaliated, leading to a gunbattle lasting for hours”.

“Three militants, including their leader Sohbat Khan, were killed and their three accomplices were rounded up,” the spokesman said, adding that the militants belonged to a banned organisation.

He said that machineguns, hundreds of rounds, explosives and other weapons were seized from the house.

The bodies were taken to a hospital morgue.

The arrested militants are being interrogated.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2016