Sept 17 , 2015
News
8,000 ‘militants’ arrested in Balochistan under NAP: govt
* Home minister says at least 204 militants killed by security forces in different operations and raids in provinceQUETTA: Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani on Wednesday stated that the provincial law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 8,000 suspected militants after the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP).
“A total of 204 terrorists were killed by security forces during different operations and raids in the province,” said Durrani. He further added that out of the 204 terrorists killed, around 100 were high-profile terrorists. The home secretary also stated that 1,840 intelligence-based operations (IBO) have been conducted in Balochistan after the implementation of NAP. “The situation has improved drastically in the province, and a large number of insurgents have laid down their arms and have rejoined society,” added Durrani.
Elaborating further, the provincial home secretary said that 530 insurgents have already surrendered, and more insurgents were expected to lay down their arms. While responding to a question Durrani stated that better border control mechanisms have been implemented to stop illegal movement on the porous Pak-Afghan border and to better control the flow of arms and narcotics from the neighbouring country. The government of Balochistan is also making efforts to implement biometric systems on the Chaman border crossing to better regulate legal movement between the two countries.
Security forces have intensified their actions in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan after the announcement of the National Action Plan to combat terrorism in the country. Gunmen had on Monday kidnapped the general manager of Balochistan Development Authority (BDA), Bacha Khan, along with five other officers from Killa Saifullah District of Balochistan. Security sources said unidentified militants stopped the vehicle of BDA officials in Nasai area of Killa Saifullah and abducted them. The kidnapped officials were inspecting an under-construction road in the area when they were picked up by the miscreants.
A search operation was launched in the area to find the abducted officers. Two militants belonging to a defunct organisation were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces on Monday. Acting on an intelligence report the security forces conducted an operation against militants in Awaran area of Quetta District. An exchange of fire took place between the militants and security forces in which two militants were killed. Meanwhile, more than two dozen militants had laid down their weapons in Noshki District.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk