Rangers soldier killed in Larkana twin blast

Two remotely-controlled IEDs caused injuries to three other paramilitary personnel and 10 passersby

SUKKUR: Saboteurs detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near a Sindh Rangers patrol vehicle in Larkana district in the early hours of Saturday, killing a paramilitary soldier and injuring three Rangers personnel and at least 10 passersby.

According to reports, a routine patrol vehicle carrying paramilitary soldiers had just left the Rangers headquarters, situated in Larkana’s Miro Khan Road, when a bomb strapped to a bicycle and another planted in a heap of garbage went off simultaneously.

The blasts ripped through the Rangers vehicle while also causing injuries to four Rangers men and 10 passers-by. After the blasts, security personnel and rescuers reached the spot and rushed the injured to Chandka Medical College, where one of the Rangers soldiers, Shahid Sial, succumbed to his injuries.



Some of the injured were later identified as Bilawal, Ghulam Nabi, Rashid Hussain, Haji Liaqat, Anwar Chandio, Zulfiqar Bhatti and Nabi Bux.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers carried out raids near Miro Khan Chowk and arrested two suspects in connection with the blasts. The suspects were taken to some undisclosed location for interrogation.

Talking to media, Larkana’s DIG Police Abdullah Shaikh said two locally-made bombs, each weighing half a kilogramme, were detonated through a remote control device.

Meanwhile, Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar rushed to Larkana and visited the site of the blasts. He also interacted with the people living nearby the Miro Khan Chowk about the incident.

Talking to the media, Akbar said, “No terrorists will be spared, no matter how influential they are.” He hinted at the possible affiliation of the attackers with some extremist organisation. “The attack on the Rangers might be part of a conspiracy to derail  the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he said.

Akbar made it clear that security men will track down the criminals, no matter where they are hiding. Later, he attended the funeral prayers of the martyred official, who was buried in his native village.

An informed source claimed that a heavy contingent of Rangers raided some villages in Warah area and arrested some activists of the proscribed Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz.

“Today’s attack on Rangers vehicle might be a backlash of these arrests. However, Sindh’s IG has constituted a four-member committee, which will probe the incident,” said the source.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31^st, 2016.