Ambush: Militants attack FC convoy in Kech, two personnel killed

Banned outfit BLF claims responsibility for the attack.

QUETTA:

At least two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were killed and four more were wounded on Friday when militants attacked a paramilitary convoy with rockets in the Kech district of Balochistan.

Balochistan Levies official Abdul Qadir told The Express Tribune that militants fired rockets at the FC convoy as it was passing through Mand area, bordering Iran. Resultantly, two soldiers were killed and four others injured. “The assailants fired several rockets and fled when security forces retaliated,” said Qadir.

Reportedly, the convoy was carrying food for FC troops deployed at check posts.

Officials rushed to the site after the incident and shifted the casualties to hospital. One of the wounded is said to be in a critical condition.

The deceased were identified as sepoys Muhammad Zawar and Lance Naik Baharm. The injured FC personnel were identified as Muhammad Irfan, Muhammad Aslam, Muhammad Ishaq, and Asar Khan.



Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani and the FC spokesman confirmed that militants had attacked two security vehicles in Mand, killing two FC members.

“There was an exchange of fire after the attack. However, there is no confirmation of the loss on the militants’ side because they were in the mountains,” said Durrani.

The spokesman for the banned outfit Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), Guhram Baloch, called media offices from an unspecified location via satellite phone and claimed responsibility for the attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 9^th, 2013.