The levies vehicle which was allegedly escorting Colorado over the Mastung highway when it was attacked. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Spanish cyclist Javier Colorado has contested official claims that seven paramilitary soldiers serving with Balochistan Levies died during last week’s attack on his convoy.
“I want to make it clear, contrary to some comments and published reports, at the time of the attack on our vehicle, we were alone on the road. The six [paramilitary] soldiers who met an unfortunate end, did not die in the attack and therefore bear no relation to the incident in which I was involved,” said the cyclist after his arrival in India in a statement available with The Express Tribune.
Officials in Mastung had claimed that seven security personnel died on January 22 when a group of armed men opened fire at the convoy of the Spanish cyclist, who was on his way to Quetta from city of Zahedan in Iran.
Talking to a Spanish journalist, Colorado said he was escorted by two Levies personnel and was in the mobile van when the attack took place.
He said he began his journey for Mastung to Quetta but had travelled only for 10 minutes when unidentified men opened fire at the vehicle. Incidentally, the cyclist filmed the incident.
In the video, which he uploaded on his YouTube channel, it is not visible who is firing and how many vehicles are escorting him as he only captured when he fell down inside the van, and started bleeding after some metal pieces hit his head.
He said he was escorted by two Levies personnel but learned about the death of six people when he reached Mastung hospital.
Although, he thanked Pakistani military for providing security and extended his sympathies with the Levies personnel who died in the attack, he said he did not know whether anyone was killed while providing security to him.
A day earlier, on January 21, the cyclist had also accidently filmed the attack on Shia pilgrims in Direngar.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2014.
COMMENTS (2)
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He was hiding behind a van during the entire incident, how would he know whether any of our security forces personnel were martyred or not? It's noteworthy that he posted his refutation on Facebook when he reached New Delhi, the possibility must be investigated that his Indian hosts coached him into saying what he did.
Why do foreign people even want to take these risks? First they visit places in Pakistan where even the locals hesitate to go to, and if they get attacked, they bring a bad name for this country.