Eight terrorists killed in Dera Bugti clash, police claim

• Peace force member martyred, three injured; seven ‘terrorists’ arrested QUETTA/KHUZDAR: At least eight suspected terrorists were killed in a clash with the Bugti Peace Force, a pro-government tribal militia, in the Loti area of Dera Bugti district on Saturday, according to police officials. A policeman who was part of the peace force was martyred and three other members were injured during the clash. Separately, a tribal leader was killed in the Naal area of Khuzdar and firing was also reported at the residence of Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, a central leader of the National Party, in the same area. Police officials said that following the clash, the peace force arrested seven suspected terrorists who allegedly belonged to a banned outfit. Sources said armed men attacked the residence of Dera Bugti District Council Chairman Ghulam Nabi Shambani and a gas company camp in the Loti area of Dera Bugti district with heavy weapons in the early hours of Saturday. The Bugti Peace Force personnel, who were deployed for the protection of the district council chairman and the gas company camp, took positions and returned fire. An exchange of fire continued for over an hour, during which heavy weapons, including rockets, were used by both sides. Some attackers were killed in the exchange of fire. Sources said that after the heavy exchange of fire, some attackers escaped from the site. However, they returned later in the day and again attacked the residence of the Dera Bugti district council chairman, who is close to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. The sources added that eight attackers were killed in the exchange of fire while seven others were arrested by the peace force. Their bodies were shifted to Loti hospital. “A member of the peace force identified as Fazal Khan lost his life as he suffered multiple bullet injuries,” a police official said. “Three other members of the peace force, who were injured in the clash, were shifted to a hospital,” he added. The official sai