Five Rangers personnel injured in attack on check post near Diamer-Bhasha dam

Home Secretary G-B says assailants mounted attack around midnight, taking benefit of darkness

GILGIT-BALTISTAN: At least five Rangers officials were injured on Sunday when suspected militants attacked a security check post near Diamer-Bhasha Dam area in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

Home Secretary G-B Sibtain Ahmed said the assailants carried out the attack at 12:55am, taking benefit of darkness.

“As they opened fire on the officials, the paramilitary force retaliated,” he added.

Ahmed said the injured were shifted to a nearby hospital in helicopter, soon after the attack, for medical treatment.

Though no one has claimed responsibility for the predawn attack, it is believed the militants fighting against state institutions were behind the assault.

According to initial investigation, the militants fired gunshots from a distance of about 200 meters and retreated when faced retaliation by the Rangers who were posted in the area after communities of Diamer and Kohistan clashed, claiming the territory belong to them.

On March 12, at least one person was killed and six others were also injured in a similar check post near Gora Qabristan area in Peshawar.

Read: One killed, six injured in attack on Peshawar check post

The deceased was identified as one of the check post attackers, while the injured victims were passengers of a van, said Superintendent of Police (SSP) Peshawar Muhammad Umar,Express News reported.