QUETTA: Armed clashes between militants and security forces continued for second consecutive day on Saturday in Balochistan's mountainous troubled district of Bolan in the aftermath of a terrorist attack on a passenger train that killed four and injured around 30 on Friday.
A Frontier Corps official, who did not wish to be named, told Dawn.com that two armed militants were killed in Dozan area of Bolan district.
He said a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, loaded on three donkeys, was also recovered from militants’ possession. “Fierce clashes took place between militants and security forces,” he said, adding that two militants were killed after exchange of fire.
Armed militants fired rockets at Rawalpindi bound Jaffar Express and killed four passengers and injured another 27 in Dozan area of Bolan district on Friday. Women and children were also among the injured.
In response, the security forces launched a search operation and they claimed to have killed eight militants following the attack on train. “Helicopters were also used in the search operation,” a levies (tribal policing) official, who requested anonymity, told Dawn.com.
Traffic between Balochistan and Sindh was also affected as result of armed clashes in sensitive Bolan district.
Meanwhile, Frontier Corps personnel arrested two suspected militants near Mastung area of Balochistan.
According to Spokesman of FC, five hand grenades and other weapons were also recovered from militants’ possession. He said the militants were being interrogated by senior officers regarding their link to subversive activities in the area.
In another incident, armed militants torched two private oil tankers in Mangochar area of Kalat district.
Munir Ahmed, a levies official told Dawn.com that four militants riding on two motorcycles opened fire at the oil tankers near Mangochar. Ahmed said two persons were injured in the firing. However, the attackers drove off the scene after the strike.
Fire brigade was called in to extinguish roaring flames of fire.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, militants have been targeting Nato supplies and private oil tankers in Balochistan's Khuzdar, Kalat and Mastung districts.