Two policemen killed in Quetta blast

Three security personnel among eight injured in attack

QUETTA: A bomb blast near the Balochistan University campus in Quetta left two traffic police officers dead on Tuesday.

Eight more people, including three security personnel, were also injured when the time bomb weighing around two kilos went off near the traffic police check post on Sariab Road, according to the Bomb Disposal Squad.

The powerful blast destroyed four motorcycles and an auto rickshaw while smashing the windowpanes of nearby buildings.

The explosive device was hidden amidst the sandbags around the checkpoint, said Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti. “The target was the check post as the security personnel have been on the frontline against terrorists in Balochistan.”

Rescue officials and law enforcement personnel arrived at the scene. The victims were taken to the Civil Sandeman Hospital, Quetta, where the deceased were identified as Head Constable Muhammad Tanveer and Constable Muhammad Arshad.

The injured victims were named as Sergeant Muhammad Ajmal, Constable Muhammad Ramzan, district police personnel Mohammad Rafeeq, university student Mohammad Shehzad and passers-by Sanwal Khan, Mohammad Akbar and an 11-year-old boy, Arshad.

Rafeeq later told the media the police personnel were having lunch when the blast took place.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In separate condolence messages, President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the Quetta blast.

They prayed for the departed souls and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. They also directed the authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to those injured in the attack.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri also condemned the attack and ordered the police to submit the interim investigation report at the earliest.

Bomb defused

Meanwhile, security personnel defused 10kg explosive material in Dera Murad Jamali on Tuesday.

The Frontier Constabulary troops foiled a terror bid following a tip-off in the Mir Hassan area and also arrested a suspect.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2016.