Aug 12, 2021: At least five suspected militants belonging to the banned militant organization were killed in an armed clash with Balochistan Chapter of Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel and security forces in the New Marri camp area of ​​Hazarganj in the provincial capital Quetta.

Acting on a tip-off, the CTD conducted a search operation in the area between Tuesday and Wednesday night. According to CTD officials, the search operation in the New Marri camp in Hazarganj was launched on reports that terrorists were planning to carry out terrorist attacks on key locations in the provincial capital Quetta on the occasion of Independence Day.

CTD personnel and security forces cordoned off a compound in the New Marri camp area on the outskirts of Quetta city and ordered the suspected terrorists to surrender. However, instead of surrendering, the gunmen hiding in the compound started firing indiscriminately at the CTD personnel, to which a proper response was given.

The heavy gun battle then lasted for about an hour, killing five suspected militants living in the compound.

“Five suspected terrorists of banned outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) were killed in the exchange of fire,” a senior CTD official said, adding that three armed men managed to escape from the compound taking advantage of the darkness.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the compound, including two sub-machine guns, three pistols, three grenades, two motorcycles, maps and important documents, the CTD  official added.

The bodies were shifted to Civil Hospital where two of the five terrorists were identified as Jamil Ahmed and Mohammad Khan according to CTD officials. The identities of the others are not yet known. They belonged to the banned Baloch Liberation Army.