QUETTA: Clashes between miscreants and Dehi Muhafiz took place at two places in Lasbela district today [Jan 28]. An official spokesman of the Baluchistan Government [said] on telephone that in one of the encounters this afternoon … two miscreants were shot dead. Another two sustained injuries and four were taken prisoner. Three others made their escape good. The spokesman said the situation in Lasbela was fully under control and the Government was determined to annihilate all the miscreants in about 48 hours’ time for which a big manhunt has been launched by the Dehi Muhafiz.

The Chief Minister, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, personally supervised the mopping up operations so that peace can once again ret­urn to the land and life, honour and property of the innocent law-abiding citizens was not af­­fected by the armed revolt. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Saigon,] the Vietnam war came to an official end at 8 a.m. (5 a.m. PST) today [Jan 28] but the tide of battle ebbed slowly and scattered fighting was reported hours after the deadline. Two US helicopters and a transport plane were hit by ground fire after start of the cease-fire.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2023