Targeting the police: Chaman bombing leaves 12 people injured

Two ‘militants’ killed, five FC troops injured in separate attack in Turbat.

QUETTA:

At least 12 people, including two policemen, were wounded in a remote-controlled explosion targeting a police vehicle in Chaman, which shares a border with Afghanistan, on Thursday.

“The improvised explosive device (IED) was fastened to a motorcycle and parked near a hotel on Mall Road. The bomb was detonated by remote control when the police vehicle passed by,” said Mohammed Ashraf, a senior police officer.

The blast damaged the police vehicle and a private car as well as shattered the windowpanes of shops.  Rescue workers, police and paramilitary troops reached the blast site after the explosion. The injured were transported to Civil Hospital,Chaman for treatment. Six people sustained minor injuries and were discharged.

One of the injured was taken to Quetta because of his critical condition. Most of the injured were passers-by.

The explosion occurred near the office of government officials. A stampede ensued after which the area was sealed off. There have been no claims of responsibility for the attack.

Several bombings have taken place in Chaman aiming at security forces and the police.

Two ‘militants’ killed

Two suspected militants were killed and five security personnel reportedly injured in a deadly clash between Frontier Corps (FC) and Baloch Liberation Front militants in Nasirabad, 25 kilometres west of Turbat on Thursday.

Local officials said two security personnel also died in the attack, however, the FC did not confirm any deaths.

According to an FC official, a convoy of the paramilitary troops was on its way to Mand from Turbat when a group of armed men opened fire at it. “Five security personnel were injured in the attack. Two militants were killed after FC personnel retaliated,” the official told The Express Tribune.

However, FC official said there is no report of deaths of FC troops. The exchange of fire between militants and security forces was still underway till the filing of this report.

Spokesperson of the banned BLF Guharam Baloch has claimed that BLF fighters had attacked the security personnel.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2014.