More than 12 people, including six police, were injured when clashes broke out between cops and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) during a rally organised to demand the release of missing students in Quetta.

According to reports, 27 people, including five women, were arrested during the incident.

Over a dozen police vehicles were damaged as police lobbed tear gas and batton-charged BYC supporters, reported Dawn News.

A firing incident took place during the clashes.

The clashes began when police tried to push BYC supporters from the Red Zone area where the protesters wanted to stage a sit-in, Dawn News reported.

Supporters of BYC had been protesting by staging a sit-in camp for over a week in Sariab area over the disappearance of Zaheer Baloch and other Baloch missing persons.

The clashes began after the demonstrators moved to the Red Zone to stage their sit-in.

At a late-night press conference, Home Minister Ziaullah Langove was quoted as saying by Dawn News that Zaheer Zeb Baloch, who disappeared a few days ago, is the brother of banned BLA commander Bashir Zeb Baloch, who was involved in Mach, Gwadar attacks and kidnapping of picnickers from Shaban area.

He said Zaheer Zeb Baloch is currently not in the custody of any of the forces.