Army troops backed by air power launched a massive combing operation in a remote area on the confluence of borders between South Punjab and Balochistan on Saturday.
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Security forces apprehended a number of militants besides recovering a huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) revealed in a news release. “Four terrorists have been killed and a security forces member embraced martyrdom”, the military said in a statement, adding that a number of militants were also detained. Helicopters were also used in the operation as many terrorists were arrested as well.
It was not clear as to when the operation was launched.
According to an official, the paramilitary Rangers are preparing to conduct an operation after Eidul Azha in five districts of south Punjab, including Dera Ghazi Khan and tribal areas of Rajanpur.
Later, its ringleader Ghulam Rasool Chotoo surrendered along with his 15 accomplices to the military authorities in the Kacha Jamal area.
Meanwhile, sources said that on the indication of Chotu gang, security forces recovered Russian weapons that were dumped in various areas of Katcha.
A resident of the Gorchani tribal area told Dawn that Gayandari was located between the Bugti and Mazari areas along the provincial border.
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Earlier in August, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif chaired a high-level security meeting, following the bombing at Quetta Civil Hospital, and ordered the intelligence agencies to initiate special combing operations to target those involved in terror attacks. He said local rumours had been circulating about the presence of hideouts of Baloch fugitives in the area.
