A police inspector was martyred and three others were injured in an exchange of fire between police and an armed gang in Balochistan's Osta Muhammad area on Friday afternoon, police sources said.

Station House Officer Rahim Bakhsh Marri was killed in an exchange of fire that broke out between police and armed suspects when the police party was conducting a raid against the gang, which is suspected of involvement in robberies in the Gandakha area of Osta Muhammad, sources added.

Three personnel were injured in the gunfight and rushed to nearby hospital for medical treatment, police sources said. Additional contingents of police were deployed to the area to apprehend the culprits involved.

In recent months, Balochistan has faced a number of security challenges, with security personnel in the province often being targeted in roadside explosions and suicide attacks.

On Nov 29, two Frontier Corps officials lost their lives while three others were injured in a landmine explosion in Sibbi district.

Earlier, on Nov 9, DIG Telecommunication Hamid Shakeel was killed along with two policemen in a suicide attack in Chaman Housing Scheme.

A week later, Acting SP Investigation Muhammad Ilyas was gunned down in Nawan Killi.