Five policemen killed in attack near Mach

* Armed men intercept passenger van, offload two people after checking their identity papers

By Muhammad Zafar

QUETTA: Baloch insurgents shot dead an SHO and four other policemen in a major roadblock on the National Highway close to Aab-e-Gum near Mach.

The Baloch insurgents, stated to be around 20 and armed with sophisticated weapons, impersonated as law enforcing people wearing khakis to hoodwink people, shot and killed the policemen on resistance, eye witness accounts claimed.

More than 20 armed men in khakis intercepted a police van, a passenger van and other vehicles passing through the National Highway in the area. Upon resistance, assailants opened fire on a police van that was heading towards Quetta from Naseerabad. Resultantly, Dera Allahyar SHO Ali Nawaz Khosa and four personnel, including Ghulam Rasul Fakkruddin, Rasul Bakhsh and Ghulamuddin, received multiple bullet wounds and died on the spot.

“When we reached the area, the people in the vehicle were already dead. The police personnel were going to Quetta to appear before Balochistan High Court regarding a case,” tehsildar Zareef Kurd told Daily Times.

The armed men also intercepted a passenger van and offloaded two people after checking their identity papers. “The armed men pretending to be security personnel asked the passengers to show their ID cards,” Zareef said quoting eyewitness accounts.

The armed men also kidnapped two levies personnel deputed near a gas well in the same area.

Three police personnel of Mach police station were returning from Dhaddar in an official vehicle carrying police salaries when they were also intercepted by the armed men. “The armed men kidnapped three policemen and a child in Ab-e-Gum area and surprisingly left the salary, which was stated to be Rs 800,000,” a senior official said. The armed men carried out this operation for an hour in the area during which they also kidnapped Balochistan Development Authority Sub-Engineer Muhammad Nawaz. He was coming to Quetta along with his family. However, his family remained unhurt.

According to an official, the armed men also opened fire on the vehicle of Frontier Corps and Mach Assistant Commissioner in Ab-e-Gum area.

The bodies were later handed over to their families in Dera Allahyar, where they were laid to rest in the presence of high officials. Police, levies, Balochistan Constabulary and personnel of other law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area for a manhunt.

“Efforts are underway to trace the armed men and snap checking is being carried out in the area,” a levy official said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani has taken a serious note of the incident and asked the authorities concerned to ensure peace in the area by arresting culprits involved in the killing of police personnel.

Inspector General of Police Malik Iqbal presided over a high level meeting to review the law and order situation in Bolan district. Different teams have been formed to probe the matter and arrested the culprits.

“The armed men were Baloch insurgents. They did not rob any person and even spared Rs 800,000,” a senior official said after closely observing the incidents. “They kidnappers detained me for several hours and asked various questions,” one of the victims, Shahid said. Finally, he and his family members were released unharmed and allowed to continue their travel.

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