6 killed, two vehicles torched in armed attack in Panjgur's Dastak area

Motive unclear; police launch search operation to trace and arrest attackers

QUETTA:

At least six people were killed in an armed attack in the Dastak area of Balochistan's Panjgur district on Monday, while two vehicles were also set on fire, according to the police.

According to officials, the incident took place in the Chaidagi–Dastak area, around 60 kilometres from Panjgur city, where unknown armed assailants launched an attack before fleeing the scene. Police teams reached the area soon after receiving information about the incident.

The motive behind the attack could not be immediately determined. A search operation has been launched to trace and apprehend the attackers, police added.

Authorities said that two of the deceased were identified as Dawood, son of Awaiz, and Jan Salim, son of Haji Faiz Muhammad; both residents of the border village of Nagar. The identities of the remaining four victims were not confirmed. Security personnel reached the spot as an investigation into the attack was launched. There was no immediate claim for the attack.

Read More: Security forces kill 5 terrorists, foil attack plot in Pishin

Almost a day ago, Balochistan Police also recovered the bodies of three men in two separate incidents in the districts of Surab and Panjgur.

In Surab, law enforcers received information that two bodies were lying in the Marap area on the outskirts of the town. A police team reached the spot, recovered the bodies, and moved them to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities.

The victims were identified as Taimur Ahmed and Ghulam Murtaza, both residents of Marap. According to police, unidentified armed men shot them dead before dumping the bodies and fleeing the scene. After necessary procedures, the bodies were handed over to the heirs.

In a similar incident in Panjgur, police were informed of a body near the CPEC Road close to the date factory. The body was recovered and taken to the hospital, where it was identified as Jehanzeb son of Muhammad Esa.