QUETTA: The death toll of suspected militants during a search operation in Johan area of Kalat district during the past 36 hours increased to 13 after five more men, including an alleged leader of a banned group, were killed and six others injured on Friday.

Paramilitary troops of the Frontier Corps had launched the operation in Splinji, Johan and Bhoi areas of Mastung and Kalat districts on Thursday that continued for several hours.

Eight suspected militants were killed in clashes with the troops during the first day, while three FC men had been injured.

An FC spokesman said here on Friday night that five more suspected militants had been killed and six others injured in a clash in Johan area of Kalat district.

He claimed that a local leader of a banned militant group, Shamsullah, was among the dead.

Security personnel destroyed several suspected hideouts of militants and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, the spokesman said.

He said more than 10 suspected militants had been arrested.

The spokesman said the killed and arrested men were wanted in cases of attacks on oil tankers and public transport.

He said three explosives-laden vehicles and four motorcycles were also destroyed. They had been prepared for attacking government installations.

“The operation was completed in the evening after achieving its goal,” the spokesman said, adding that over 400 FC troops had taken part in it with the help of helicopters.

FC troops also conducted a search operation in Zhob, arrested a wanted terrorist and seized arms and ammunition, including an RPG-7 with 10 rockets, an LMG and other weapons.

In another raid, FC personnel arrested a suspected terrorist from Dalbandin and seized automatic weapons.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2015

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