Terror bid foiled: Cache of explosives seized in Quetta

Separately, a man from the Hazara community was shot dead.

QUETTA: The police rounded up seven suspects, including three Afghan nationals, and seized explosive materials from two vehicles near Kuchlak, in the outskirts of Quetta, on Wednesday.

The police recovered 200 explosives, 110 landmines, 2,980 detonators, 6,800 remote control systems, 11 double battery devices, 11 two-way radios with batteries, 115 fuses, 3,000 metres of wire and 3,200 kilogrammes of potassium.

“Two vehicles packed with explosive materials were en route to Quetta from Zhob when they were intercepted by the New Kuchlak Police near Bostan Patakh,” Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Quetta Mir Zubair Mehmood told reporters during a news conference. He claimed the police foiled a major bid of terror by seizing such a large quantity of explosives.

All seven suspects were arrested and shifted to a police station for interrogation.

Quetta CCPO claimed the suspects intended to smuggle the explosives to Quetta for subversive activities. A case has been registered and the police have launched an investigation.

Mehmood said the police have increased patrolling in and around Quetta after frequent attacks on police and civilians. “Over 2,000 bombs could have been made from these explosive materials if it had reached Quetta,” he claimed.

According to CCPO Quetta, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has announced promotions and certificates for the New Kuchlak Police, led by SHO and ASI Mansoor Ahmed.

The suspects were identified as Mohammad Khan, Abdul Hakeem and Rafiullah from Afghanistan, Mehmood Khan and Hazebulla from Bostan and Rehmatullah and Mira Jan from Quetta.

Hazara man shot dead

Meanwhile, another man from the Hazara community was shot dead near a roadside hotel on the Joint Road in Quetta on Wednesday. According to the police, the victim, identified as Ali Mohamamd son of Gulam Ali Hazara, was on his cycle when assailants on a motorbike shot at him.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.