Daily Times

QUETTA: At least five alleged terrorists were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Chashma Achozai area, an outskirt of the provincial capital, late night between Monday and Tuesday, officials said.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said that the terrorists hided in Chashma Achozai area and were planning to carry out an act of terrorism in Quetta, adding that the security forces timely foiled their nefarious designs.

“A group of terrorists were present in Chashma Achozai area with heavy quantity of weapons and explosives and had planned to commit act of terror attack in city,” he said, adding that the security forces following intelligence information, took timely action against them.

He said that Balochistan Police Inspector General Ahsan Mehboob himself supervised the operation against the terrorists, adding that weapons and explosives recovered from the possession of the terrorists included Kalashnikovs, pistols and improvised explosive devices.

The police sources said that on a tip-off about presence of armed men in Chashma Achozai area of the provincial capital, police and other law enforcement agencies launched search operation to arrest the accused. “The armed men, while hiding in a house, opened fire at a party of Airport Police and the security forces retaliated against the attack. The gun battle between the armed men and the security forces continued for several hours which led to the killing of five alleged terrorists,” they added. The law enforcement agencies have cordoned off the entire area. Further probe was underway.