QUETTA - At least eight militants and four personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed in a clash in Kohlu district, in the wee hours of Friday. The militants attacked an FC convoy with heavy weapons near Bala Daka of Chamalang area, killing four soldiers and wounding several others. The security personnel retaliated and killed at least eight suspected militants. Following the attack, heavy contingents of security forces were called in from nearby areas which cordoned off the area and started a search operation to trace out the militants. Sources said that the gunbattle started in the late hours of early hours of Friday and continued till noon. FC spokesperson, Murtaza Baig confirmed the incident and said four FC personnel embraced martyrdom and eight miscreants were killed in the clash. He said the security personnel were on a routine duty in Chamalang when militants attacked them. In a statement, FC Inspector General Ubaidullah Khan paid a glowing tribute to the martyred soldiers. The defunct Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the Chamalang attack. Calling from an unspecified location via satellite phone, a BLA spokesman, Azad Baloch claimed that several security personnel were killed and injured in the attack. He said the attack on FC was reaction of killing of a woman and two children by security forces in Kohlu. Meanwhile, unidentified militants exploded a 6-inch diameter gas pipeline in Bugti Colony of Dera Bugti. The explosive material was planted beneath the pipeline which damaged a long portion of the pipeline. As a result, gas supply to a purification plant from Well No. 59 was suspended. However, no loss of life was reported in the blast. Law enforcement agencies rushed to the site after the blast and cordoned off the area.