QUETTA - After two days captivity, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kech and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Tump were set free by militants in Kalatuk area of Keach District on Saturday.
Deputy Commissioner Kech Abdul Hameed Abro and Assistant Commissioner Tump Hussain Jan Baloch were kidnapped by banned outfit Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) on Thursday when they were returning Turbat after a meeting with Iranian officials at border.
Commissioner Makran Division Abdul Fateh Bangar, confirming the release of DC Abdul Hameed Abro and AC Tump Hussain Jan Baloch, said the freedom for the captives was secured following talks between the tribal elders and the militants. “Talks are underway with tribal elders to ensure safe recovery of three more government officials, including that of AC Dasht Naeem Gichki, Naib tehsildar Bulida Rafeq Ahmed and Naib Tehsildar Dasht Ahmed Ali from militants,” he added.
The Balochistan Levies official in Tump Mujeeb Baloch said that the DC Kech and Assistant Commissioner Tump reached the DC office in Turbat on Saturday.
“We have been informed that three other kidnapped government officials are also released but it is yet to be confirmed,” he said.
It may be mentioned here that on Friday six senior government officials, including AC Dasht and two Naib Tehsildars who had gone to hold talks with tribal elders were also abducted by BLF’s Sarmachars (fighters) in Gomazi area of Tump near Iran border.
After keeping in custody for a short period three of the people, including tribal elder and two Balochistan Levies officials were released by the militants late on Friday night.
However, it is yet to be confirmed that three government officials are released or not.
Following kidnapping of six senior government officials, a seven-member delegation headed by Chief Secretary Balochistan Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad and Home Secretary Asadur Rehman Gilani reached Turbat City to negotiate with militants for safe recovery of kidnapped government officials.
On the other hand, the banned militant organization BLF’s spokesman Gohram Baloch has claimed that they had released all kidnapped government officials after getting information. He claimed that BLF was struggling for their cause following all international humanitarian laws.
GAS PIPELINE, TWO POWER PYLONS BLOWN UP
A gas pipeline and two power pylons were blown up in Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts of Balochistan on Saturday in two separate incidents.
In the first incident, explosive material planted by miscreants beneath eight-inch diameter gas pipeline in Loti area of Dera Bugti went off with a bang and damaged a major portion of pipeline. Resultantly, gas supply to purification plant from Well No. 1 was suspended. In the second incident, two power pylons of 220kv transmission line were blown up with explosive material in Mawand area of Kohlu that disrupted power supply to different areas.
However, no loss of life was reported in both incidents nor any arrest was made.
Law enforcement agencies rushed to the site after the blasts and cordoned off the areas.
Local administrations have registered separate cases and started investigation into the incident.