reposted from The Baloch Hal | Dec 27, 2010 | Original story

Note: a source from Quetta reports that as of 8AM, Dec 27, 2010, 113 Baloch have been detained, 75 from Killi Qambrani, Quetta, over the attack. Contrary to police reports, residents report looting of their cash, jewelery, valuables and vehicles.

QUETTA: Quetta police rounded up 93 suspects for their alleged involvement in different crimes, including opening fire on police and kidnappings for ransom, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) (Operations), Hamid Shakil told reporters while addressing a news conference on Sunday.

He was flanked by Crimes Investigation Agency Superintendent of Police Shaban Ghulam Hussain Buzdar and other police officials. He said that police had carried out raids in different parts of Quetta, after the remote bomb attack on a police van on Qambrani Road, which claimed the life of a police official and left five others injured.

"The police will release those who will be proved innocent, having no connections with criminal gangs," he added.

He said that during a raid in a house on Qambrani Road the other day, some unidentified people opened fire on the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF) and the Rapid Response Group (RRG) squads. The assailants were arrested.

The accused were identified as Doda Khan, Muhammad Nawaz and Bahar Khan. "We found a Kalashnikov and two rifles from their possession," Shaban Ghulam said. The DIG said that about 78 gangs were active in Quetta. "The police has arrested a few groups and efforts are underway for the arrest of other culprits," he said.

When asked about the increase of kidnapping-for-ransom cases, Hamid Shakil said that usually the kidnapped people change their statements in court for fear of receiving threats from criminal gangs, hence are released.

He claimed that the police respected the sanctity of homes and usually carried out raids accompanied by female police.

Meanwhile, residents of Killi Qambrani claimed that the police and the ATF had arrested dozens of innocent Baloch people during raids in the area.

Addressing a news conference at the Quetta Press Club, Mushtaq Qambrani and Nasir Qambrani said that law enforcement agencies' personnel had violated the sanctity of homes. (Courtesy: Daily Times, report by Mohammad Zadfar)