The Muslim News

Pakistan: 25 killed in Dera Bugti operation

06-07-2006

By Saleem Shahid

QUETTA, Dawn: Security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, claimed killing at least 25 militants on Wednesday in an operation in the Sangsilla area of Dera Bugti district.

“Security forces killed 25 armed men,” Raziq Bugti, a spokesman for the Balochistan government said. However, the DCO Dera Bugti claimed that 31 militants had been killed in the operation. The figures were not officially confirmed. Mr Bugti, however, said that militants had taken away the bodies of men killed in the operation.

“We came to know about the militants’ casualty figures from a communication intercepted by officials concerned,” the spokesman said.

Sources said that security forces, who launched strikes against militant strongholds three days ago in the district, attacked one of their hideouts in the north of Sangsilla.

Helicopter gunships bombed the hilly area around Sangsilla, killing and injuring many militants, they said.

Mr Raziq Bugti said that security forces had also found a huge quantity of arms and ammunition from different areas in Dera Bugti, including anti-aircraft guns and other heavy weapons.

However, the district nazim of Dera Bugti, Mir Mohammad Kazim Bugti, said that he had ‘no information’ about tribesmen killed but helicopter gunships had been seen in action over many areas in the district.

Mr Kazim Bugti said that heavy fighting had been reported from some areas where militants resisted the attacks. He claimed that during the fighting, a helicopter was damaged. Earlier, militants had claimed killing 30 security personnel in different areas of Dera Bugti.

Meanwhile, officials said that security forces continued the operation in Dera Bugti and militants fired a large number rockets on Frontier Corps’ checkposts.

According to reports received here, helicopter gunships attacked the ‘Farari camps’ and hideouts in Dhaman, Sangsilla, Piran, Gaz Toba Nokhani and Homari areas.

“An operation is in progress against miscreants and will continue till the target is achieved,” the sources said, adding that security forces had cleared a large area from militants involved in attacking government installations and security forces.

The sources said that tribesmen fired at least 40 rockets on FC checkposts in Pir Koh, Sangsilla, Chashma, Toba Nokhani and other areas. They also targeted the OGDC camp in Pir Koh gas field. However, no loss of life or damage to property was reported in the attacks.



http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/06/top1.htm

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