Balochistan: Four Killed At Wedding Party Near Dera Bugti

QUETTA: A bride and groom were among at least four people killed in a shootout at a wedding party in Pakistan's Balochistan province, a local official said Tuesday.Tuesday, 03 Feb, 2009

A Balochistan Republican Army spokesman accused the paramilitary soldiers of opening fire at the party.

The incident took place in Dashtgoran village, 18 kilometres east of Dera Bugti town in the gas-rich province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, and where a regional insurgency has killed hundreds since 2004.

'Paramilitary soldiers raided a house in the area on Monday night to track down militants,' a local official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

'When these troops stormed the house, some shots were fired by residents and the troops returned fire, killing four people, including the bride and groom,' added the official.

But a spokesman for the rebel Balochistan Republican Army, Sher Mohammad Bugti, accused the paramilitary soldiers of opening fire at the party.

He said nine people were killed, including the bride and groom.

Earlier on Monday, militants attacked a paramilitary convoy and opened fire in Dera Bugti, security forces said.
'Troops returned fire killing five rebels,' the Frontier Corps said.

Dera Bugti was the hometown of tribal chieftain Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed in a military operation in August 2006.
Balochistan has been rocked by a four-year insurgency waged by tribal rebels fighting for political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region's natural resources.

Hundreds of people have died in violence since the insurgency flared in late 2004. The province has also been hit by attacks blamed on Taliban militants.

http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/four-killed-wedding-party-dera-bugti--qs