Two martyred, nine injured in Panjgur blast

DPO says two to three kilogrammes of explosive material used in the blast

QUETTA: Two people were martyred and nine others injured in the Chatkan area of Panjgur district on Thursday after an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed in a motorbike exploded.

According to the police, unidentified culprits parked an IED-fitted motorbike inside a garage at Chatkan Bazaar, which exploded with a huge bang, martyring two people and injuring nine others.

“The gas cylinder inside the motor workshop also exploded along with the IED engulfing the whole garage in flames due to presence of petrol,” said Panjgur DPO Jameel Ahmed.

One killed, 18 injured in Dera Murad Jamali blast

Law enforcement agencies and rescue workers rushed to the site and cordoned off the area.

The injured and the bodies were evacuated to the DHQ Hospital for completion of medico-legal formalities.

The bodies were charred beyond recognition and kept in a morgue for identification, while one of the injured is in critical condition.

Five vehicles and three motorbikes were destroyed, while two vehicles were partially damaged in the blast. Windows of many nearby shops were also shattered.

“Unidentified terrorists parked an IED-fitted motorbike inside the garage and escaped. Later, they triggered it through remote,” said the Panjgur DPO, adding that two to three kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast.

The DPO believed that the target of the terrorists were the people, who skipped the armed struggle against the state, and joined the mainstream.

So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this news story. Police have lodged a First Information Report and started investigation.

On February 24, at least one person was killed and 18 others injured in a bomb blast in Dera Murad Jamali.
According to police, unidentified persons planted an improvised explosive device (IED) in a motorcycle parked outside a private clinic at Mazdoor Chowk.

Prior to that on February 17, four Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers were martyred in an ambush by terrorists in Goran, some 70 kilometres from Panjgur district.

According to reports, terrorists with sophisticated weapons ambushed a security post of Panjgur Rifles 59 Wing at NA-85 China-Pakistan Corridor Highway, martyring four FC soldiers.

Days earlier, on February 13, four security personnel were injured in a suicide bomb blast in Balochistan’s Mastung district. As per officials, a suicide bomber targeted a security convoy on patrol in Mastung’s Sheikh Wasil area.