Balochistan Constabulary officer shot dead while escorting anti-polio campaigners

He was shot six times in his chest and died instantly: Assistant Commissioner of Loralai

QUETTA: A Balochistan Constabulary officer guarding female anti-polio campaigners was shot dead in Loralai district, about 215 kilometers northwest of Balochistan on Thursday.

Two armed men opened fire at the officer who was standing outside a house on Quetta Road of Loralai where campaigners were administering polio drops to children.

“He was shot six times in his chest and died instantly,” Miran Baloch, Assistant Commissioner of Loralai told The Express Tribune.

Eyewitnesses said the armed men wanted to terrorise the anti-polio campaigners. However, the Assistant Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Loralai had categorically rejected that the assailants specifically targeted anti-polio campaigners.

“The armed men wanted to snatch the official weapon from officer. He was shot dead because he was resisting,” Miran said, adding that it was case of weapon snatching.

Responding to a query, Miran said the anti-polio drive is continuing without any problem.

“The incident took place on the third day of the anti-polio drive in Loralai,” he added.

This was the second incident in which anti-polio campaigners were targeted in the province. Earlier a polio team was attacked with a hand grenade in Quetta at the end of 2013. However, no one was hurt as the workers managed to throw back the grenade.

Quetta and the northern part of Balochistan have been declared sensitive zones for the outbreak of polio.

Although there has not been a single case of the virus emerging for the past 15 months, experts say it may come back if the anti-polio drive becomes ineffective again.