QUETTA: Two suspected terrorists were killed and a police constable was injured in an encounter in Akhtarabad area on Monday.

According to sources, a police patrol signalled a vehicle to stop for checking but its driver tried to speed away.

Police chased the vehicle and found it in a nearby garden where a shootout took place.

Two suspected terrorists were killed and constable Riaz Ahmed was injured. He was taken to the Bolan Medical College Hospital.

Quetta Deputy Inspector General (operations) Qazi Abdul Wahid said at a press conference that bullet-proof jackets had saved the lives of several personnel of the Anti-Terrorism Force during the encounter.

The DIG said police had seized two pistols, hand-grenades, four 9mm rifles, a large number of bullets, fake number-plates and four CNICs.However, he did not identify the suspects who had been killed. “It’s too early to say anything about their links with any group.”

He said the seized CNICs had been sent to the National Database and Registration Authority to ascertain the identity of the suspects.

“We will not hide anything,” he said. Everything about the alleged terrorists will be made public after investigation.

The DIG said law-enforcement agencies were working on a security plan prepared by the authorities concerned to restore peace in Quetta.

“We have arrested six suspected terrorists in two days and they are being interrogated,” he said, adding useful information had been collected.

He said detained suspects found innocent after investigation were being freed.

Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani praised the police performance and announced a reward of Rs500,000 for the injured constable and Rs100,000 each for other personnel who took part in the encounter. He also ordered promotion of the injured policeman.

He expressed the hope that police would try hard to bust gangs involved in kidnapping for ransom and other heinous crimes.