Insurgency in Balochistan: Militants blow up gas pipeline in Sibi

Explosives planted near pipeline detonated through remote control.

QUETTA:

Saboteurs blew up a section of the gas pipeline in Sibi for the second time in less than a week, suspending the gas supply to Khajak Town.

According to security officials, a four-inch diameter gas pipeline was blown up in Sibi, about 145 km southeast of Quetta, on Saturday morning.

An official of the Balochistan Levies in Sibi said unknown militants planted explosives near the gas pipeline and detonated it using a remote control device. “The explosion damaged a four inch diameter gas pipeline,” he said.

Following the explosion, Levies personnel along with security forces reached the site and cordoned off the area.

While talking to The Express Tribune, an official of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) said that, “Gas supply was restored after being suspended from 5:30 am to 2pm.”

Khajak is the second largest village in Sibi with a population of more than 5,000 families. Gas pipelines in the province have come under frequent attacks, resulting in disruptions in supply to many areas of the country.

On Tuesday, a 16-inch diameter gas pipeline was blown up in Dera Bugti.  However, no one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.

Separately, a passer-by died after he stepped on a landmine planted by unidentified men in Pelough area of Bugti Tribal Territory on Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20^th, 2014.