Connecting the dots: Same group behind series of attacks on law enforcers

Friday attack on Rangers van third such incident in the area in two months.

"The bombs used in all three attacks seem to have been manufactured by the same person," said a police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Usually, terrorists use ball bearings to cause maximum damage. These bombs, however, contained large steel nails." STOCK IMAGE

KARACHI:
Law enforcers investigating the deadly attack on the Rangers van on Friday evening suspect that one particular group is behind the recent series of attacks targeting law enforcers in North Nazimabad.

Two Rangers personnel lost their lives in a suicide attack in North Nazimabad on Friday. At least two passersby were also wounded. The Rangers van was attacked by a suicide bomber who slammed his motorcycle into the vehicle as it was patrolling the area.

According to sources, this is the third time that terrorists have attempted to target law enforcers in the jurisdiction of Sharae Noor Jahan police station in the last two months.

On January 10 this year, the bomb disposal squad defused a bomb near Qalandria Chowk, the same vicinity where the Rangers mobile came under attack on Friday evening. Interestingly, the police also found a note along with the bomb, stating that it was a “revenge of the martyrs of alQaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS)”.

A few months earlier, a police van of the Sharae Noor Jahan police station came under a bomb attack. Luckily, no loss of life was reported in the incident.

"The bombs used in all three attacks seem to have been manufactured by the same person," said a police official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. "Usually, terrorists use ball bearings to cause maximum damage. These bombs, however, contained large steel nails."


Law enforcers suspect the AQIS is likely behind the attacks.

Funeral prayers

Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar said that efforts to bring peace to Karachi will continue at any cost. He lauded the efforts of the Rangers personnel in controlling the law and order situation in the city.

Lt Gen Mukhtar was speaking to the media after attending the funeral prayers of the two Rangers personnel who lost their lives in the suicide attack in North Nazimabad.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered at the Sharae Noor Jahan police station on behalf of one of the Rangers personnel. The case has been registered against unidentified persons, while a section of the anti-terrorism act was also included in the FIR.

Meanwhile, an FIR, No. 147/15 has been registered at Aram Bagh police station on behalf of a Bohra community member, identified as Ali Asghar, against the bomb attack at Saleh Mosque on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2015.
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