Six security personnel martyred in two attacks

ISPR says Maj Saqib, Naik Baqir embraced Shahadat in Balor area; four others martyred in Sherani district

RAWALPINDI/ QUETTA:

Six security personnel were martyred in two separate terrorist attacks in Balochistan on Sunday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and Levies sources said.

Two military men, Major Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali embraced Shahadat, when terrorists ambushed their patrol in the Hoshab area, the ISPR said, hours after three levies personnel and a Frontier Corps (FC) official were martyred in the Sherani district.

The ISPR said that the combat patrol of security forces was initiated in general area Balor on “credible intelligence” about a group of terrorists linked to firing at security forces and civilians, besides planting of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Hoshab area.

“While establishment of blocking positions to cut the escape routes was under way, a party of terrorists tried to ambush, closing in [on the] patrol and opened fire at the security forces,” the media wing of the military said in a statement.

“As a result of heavy exchange of fire, two brave sons of the nation, Major Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali embraced Shahadat while another soldier got injured,” the statement added.

The ISPR said that a follow-up operation to nab the perpetrators of the attack continued in the area. “The security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart such attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the statement added.

Hours earlier, the sources said that at least four security personnel were martyred in a terrorist attack on a security forces’ check post in the in the Dana Sar area of the Sherani district on Sunday morning.

Sherani Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bilal Shabbir confirmed the fatalities to reporters, adding that an exchange of fire between the security forces and the terrorists took place after the attack that continued for almost two hours.

Another FC man was injured whose condition was said to be out of danger while one terrorist was killed during the exchange of fire and two others were injured.

DC Shabbir said: “The companions of the injured terrorists succeeded in taking them away. The body of the terrorist has been handed over to the CTD (Counter Terrorism Department).”

The bodies of the martyred soldiers were brought to the Zhob District Headquarters Hospital, where a large number of the area people had gathered. Heartbreaking scenes were witnessed when the bodies of the martyred personnel were brought to the hospital.

The martyred personnel were identified as police Sub-Inspector Bahadur Khan, Muhammad Afzal and Baaz Khan of district Sherani.

Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Quddus Bizenjo strongly condemned the attack, directing the district administration to arrest the culprits behind the attack.

In a statement, Bizenjo said the perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice and punished.

Meanwhile, former president Asif Zardari condemned the attack on the check post in Shirani, extending condolences to the families of the martyred officials. “The nation will not forgive the killers of its brave sons at any cost,” he said.

These incidents came a day after unidentified miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at a police station in Quetta. One policeman was injured in the attack. Security has been tightened in and around Quetta city in the aftermath of the attack at the police station.