Balochistan unrest: Two killed in rocket attack on NATO terminal

Blasts in Quetta, Chaman; no loss of life reported.


Our Correspondent January 12, 2013
Trucks were temporarily parked at the terminal.PHOTO: AFP/FILE



Several rockets landed near Hazarganji at a Nato terminal, on the outskirts of Quetta, killing at least two drivers and damaging ten Nato containers on Friday night.


According to the police, unidentified men fired four rockets, targeting the containers that were en route to Kandahar from Karachi. They were temporarily parked at the terminal.

“Two drivers identified as Abid and Waheed Shah were severely injured and died,” said a police official, adding that the assailants also opened indiscriminate fire that lasted for about half an hour.

Law enforcement agencies rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. “About ten containers were partially damaged after catching fire, but the fires were put out,” said DIG Investigation Hamid Shakeel. The containers were carrying supplies for Nato forces in Afghanistan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as yet.

Targeted killings?

Three people, including a father and his son were killed in firing incidents in Quetta and Dadhar. According to police, armed men riding a motorbike opened indiscriminate fire on a bread shop (tandoor) and killed Sirajuddin and his son Abdullah at Killi Kamlo in Saryab locality. As a result, both sustained critical wounds and died immediately. The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained.



Separately, a person was killed in the Dadhar area of Bolan district.  Levies officials said that Ghulam Muhammad Jan and Rahim Jan were on their way in Rind Ali, in Dadhar when armed men sprayed bullets on them. As a result, both received bullet injuries and were being shifted to hospital when Ghulam Muhammad succumbed to injuries. Levies sources said that investigations were underway to ascertain motive behind the incident.

Explosions in Quetta, Chaman

Two separate bomb blasts occurred in Quetta and Chaman on Friday. While there was no loss of life, a passerby was injured in the Quetta explosion.

In the first incident, a bomb planted near the Urban Planning department office located at Double Road, Quetta, went off with a huge blast, wounding one person. He was shifted to the hospital for medical aid.

The second blast took place on Rahman Kawal Road, Chaman, bordering Afghanistan. Levies officials said that unidentified people had planted explosives at a Levies checkpost, which damaged the picket. A nearby mosque was also partially damaged.

Sources said the checkpost was vacant when the blast occurred. The levies stationed on the picket were on patrol, and therefore they remained safe from the explosion, sources said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2013.

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