QUETTA, Feb 20: Federal Minister for Frontier Regions Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind survived an attempt on his life in the Sani area of Bolan district on Tuesday.

“Sardar Rind was unhurt,” district nazim Sardar Khan Rind told Dawn on the telephone.

The minister was going to Sibi from his native town of Shoran to attend a meeting.

According to officials, the caravan of the minister was attacked near Landow village.

Sardar Rind’s guards and police personnel accompanying him protected his vehicle and returned fire.

The officials said that soon after the attack, the DIG of Sibi Range arrived at the place along with a heavy contingent of police and cordoned off the area.

The exchange of fire between the armed men and police continued for several hours.

After reaching Sibi, Sardar Rind told this correspondent on the phone that the assailants were the same people who had attacked a security forces’ convoy in the same area about two months ago, adding that he suspected some local people’s involvement.

Police sources in Sibi said that security forces, including police and FC personnel, had launched a massive search operation in the area.