Bugti and several army officials killed in Balochistan

Islamabad, Aug 27 (UNI) Veteran nationalist leader and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed, along with 37 armed tribals, in a military operation in Bhamboor hills of Dera Bugti district late last night, media reports said.

The provincial government thereafter imposed indefinite curfew in Quetta and the army was called in to control the situation. Security has been put on high alert in Karachi and other major cities of the country to prevent any untoward incident.

Nawab Bugti, born in 1927, was a former chief minister of Balochistan. He went underground last year, joining militants who have been long waging an armed struggle against the central government, Dawn newspaper reported.

According to reports received here, 21 security personnel, including some officers, were also killed in the fierce battle.

Over two dozen tribesmen were injured and arrested.

President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were informed about the operation late last night.

Nawab Bugti was killed in the operation along with some family members, federal minister for information Mohammad Ali Durrani told the media.

''Yes, I confirm the death of Nawab sahib in the operation''said Agha Shahid Bugti, Senator and son-in-law of Nawab Bugti, adding that he had no information about other causalities.

However, sources claimed that Nawabzada Baramdagh Bugti, grandson of Nawab Bugti, was among the dead but Agha Shahid Bugti said he could not confirm the report.

President Musharraf and central government officials repeatedly described Bugti and a few other tribal chieftains as ''anti-democracy and anti-development'' elements, who created a law and order problem in the province by raising private armies, laying landmines and making local population their hostage.

According to the sources, security forces started the operation in Bhambhoor, targeting the Chalgri area three days ago using heavy weapons and helicopter gunships. Yesterday, more troops were inducted into the operation and helicopter gunships shelled the area throughout the day.

Armed militants of Marri and Bugti tribes resisted the troops and heavy fighting was reported for several hours.

Nawab Bugti and many others were killed when helicopter gunships dropped bombs at their hideout, the sources reported, adding that troops had arrested over two dozen injured militants.

Reports reaching here, said that the operation continued till around 0130 hrs (local time), the Dawn report said.

Security forces confirmed the killing of around 21 of their personnel and said that six officers -- a colonel, two majors and three captains -- were among the dead.

After hearing about the death of Nawab Bugti, hundreds of students of the Balochistan University came out on the main Sariab Road in Quetta and started protesting against the killing of Nawab Bugti and other people which soon turned to rioting. Police fired in the air to quell the mob.

Leaders of major opposition parties, including Makhdoom Amin Faheem of the PPP and Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the MMA, expressed shock and grief over the death of Nawab Bugti and reiterated their rejection of the use of force in Balochistan.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti and expressed condolences to the Bugti family. He said that his party had always opposed the military operation in Balochistan and called for talks to resolve the issue.

Reports of protest demonstrations were received from the dominantly Baloch area of Lyari in Karachi late last night.

A report received from Sukkur received late last night said that areas bordering the province of Balochistan in Sindh and Punjab had been placed on high alert with a large deployment of security forces.

A spokesman of the Marri tribe, Najeed Marri, told Dawn on phone from Kohlu that 140 people from the Bugti and Marri tribes had been killed in the air and ground operations launched.

He identified the area of the operation as Karmowadh, 45kms from Kahan, the headquarters of Khair Bux Marri tribe.

Terming it as a major operation resulting in casualties on both sides, he reiterated their committment to continue the struggle despite the death of Akbar Bugti.

UNI XC MQA KP1425