Blast kills one Rangers sepoy, injures six others

The explosion was carried by a remote-controlled device placed near the Rangers truck.

KARACHI: A paramilitary soldier was killed and six others were wounded when an improvised explosive device exploded near a Rangers’ truck in Landhi on Thursday.

The vehicle was targeted when it was sent in the early morning hours to replace the paramilitary troops deployed in Landhi 89, the Landhi Superintendent of Police, Faisal Noor, told The Express Tribune.

The explosion, in which seven of the 10 personnel aboard were injured, also drove terrified residents out of their homes.

The injured personnel were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where a 26-year-old sepoy, Pandhi Khan, succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, the condition of two more injured soldiers was declared ‘critical’ by JPMC deputy executive director Dr Seemin Jamali.

SP Noor revealed that around three to four kilogrammes of explosive material was planted in a motorcycle that was parked on the roadside and further camouflaged by scrap and wooden logs. “As the Rangers’ vehicle moved along the spot, the terrorists detonated it through a remote control,” said SP Noor.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Rangers conducted a search operation in the vicinity and apprehended at least five suspects. According to the police, those arrested were wage-earners employed at the shops nearby.

The deceased sepoy, hailing from Kalario village in district Tharparkar, had joined the paramilitary force around five-and-a-half years ago. He is survived by his wife.

“This cowardly act is proof of the effectiveness of Rangers targeted operations. The criminals have resorted to such acts out of frustration,” said the Rangers spokesperson. “These sacrifices can only strengthen our resolve to fight crime and terrorism in the city.”

Meanwhile, information and local government minister Sharjeel Memon also condemned the blast and felt it was an attempt by criminals to discourage law enforcers from the targeted operation.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain also condemned the targeted attack at the Rangers truck.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.