QUETTA: A police personnel was martyred and three others were injured in armed attacks on two police stations in the Dhadar area of Kachhi district on Saturday.
Police officials said unknown armed men arrived in Dhadar on motorcycles in the evening and launched an attack on the police station using rockets and grenades. Police personnel deployed at the station took positions and returned the fire.
Aide to the Home Minister of Balochistan, Babar Yousafzai, said the attack in Dhadar by “Fitna al-Hindustan” was successfully foiled through a timely and effective response. A senior police officer said a heavy exchange of fire continued for over an hour, resulting in the killing of one attacker. He confirmed the martyrdom of a Balochistan Constabulary personnel and said that three other police officials were injured in the gunbattle.
Body of the martyred personnel and the injured were shifted to the district hospital. The condition of two injured personnel was stated to be critical, and they may be shifted to Sibi or Quetta for further treatment. The attackers also damaged several vehicles parked outside the police station, while the building was partially damaged.
After the attack, additional police contingents reached Dhadar. Officials said the firing later stopped and the attackers fled.
Babar Yousafzai said that terrorists attempted to exploit the darkness of night to launch the attack; however, security and police personnel were already on high alert and responded immediately and strongly. “In retaliatory action, several terrorists of ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ were killed. The body of one slain terrorist was left behind, while the remaining bodies were taken away by the attackers under the cover of darkness,” he added.
He further said that a clearance and search operation was launched immediately after the incident and the pursuit of the terrorists was ongoing.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the personnel of police and Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) for foiling the attack in Dhadar. He praised the professionalism of Balochistan Police. In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, it was stated that the prime minister paid tribute to the security official who embraced martyrdom.
Expressing condolences, he prayed for the departed soul and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eradicate terrorism from the country.
