This is the third day that the tracks were attacked. Officials of the police and the Bomb Disposal Squad cordoned off the area to conduct a search, in which two more hand-made bombs were found and defused. No casualties were reported nor were any arrests made.
A train carrying oil from Karachi to the Punjab had passed through the targeted area minutes before the explosions.
The railway authorities stopped trains at the stations in Khairpur, Mahrabpur and Rohri for two hours, until the tracks were cleared for traffic by the Bomb Disposal Squad. Khairpur DPO Syed Pir Ali Shah said that the police will patrol the tracks within the district.
Tracks between Karachi and Kashmore have been targeted over the last few months, allegedly by a group known as the Sindhu Desh Liberation Army, which has claimed responsibility.
Gas pipeline attacked in Larkana
Meanwhile, unidentified men planted a hand-made bomb near the Qambar link road, which, despite exploding, did not damage a gas pipeline from Sui to Karachi via Larkana which was believed to be the target in the attack. No casualties were reported.
Police and Rangers reached the scene and cordoned off the area, after which the Bomb Disposal Squad was called to search the surrounding areas.
This was followed by the arrests of four watchmen, who were employed by the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for the security of the site. They were identified as Zameer Kulhoro, Pir Baksh Chandio, Yaar Muhammad Mangrio and Muhammad Paryal Mangrio. DPO Larkana said that investigations are underway.
While the blast left a 16-inch deep and one-and-a-half-inch wide crater, the pipeline was not been damaged, said SSGC chief engineer Ghazi Anwer Kerio.
ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM ONLINE
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2010.
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