A bride and groom were among at least four people killed in a shootout at a wedding party near Dera Bugti, a local official said Tuesday. The incident took place in Dashtgoran village, 18 kilometres east of Dera Bugti. "Paramilitary soldiers raided a house in the area on Monday night to track down rebels," 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, rebels 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.