QUETTA: A second woman who was critically injured in a gun attack by unidentified armed men near Mangochar in Kalat district has succumbed to her wounds, raising the death toll in the incident to two, family sources confirmed.
According to the sources, the bodies of the two women have been transported to their native village, Killi Apozai in Zhob district, where they will be laid to rest. The victims belonged to the Mandokhail tribe.
The attack occurred on the RCD National Highway near Mangochar, where unidentified masked gunmen had reportedly set up a checkpoint and were stopping and inspecting passing vehicles.
A vehicle carrying a family from Zhob to Karachi for medical treatment approached the area during the blockade. According to reports, the driver attempted to stop the vehicle at some distance after noticing the armed men. However, the assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the vehicle. As a result of the firing, two women sustained critical gunshot wounds, while a young child was also injured. One of the women died shortly after the attack, while the second later succumbed to her injuries during treatment, taking the death toll to two.
The incident triggered panic in the area, with residents expressing concern over the security situation on the highway.
Family members said the bodies of the victims were sent to Zhob via the Joint Road for burial. No further details were immediately available regarding the condition of the injured child. Following the attack, law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace the unidentified attackers. Authorities have also initiated an investigation into the incident.
