QUETTA, Aug 27: In another incident of targeted Shia killing, three people of the Hazara community were killed and three others injured when gunmen opened fire on a taxi in the city’s Spiny Road area on Monday.

Police sources said that five people were in the taxi, going to Marriabad from Hazara Town. They came under attack near Killi Mubarak area.

A senior police officer said three people hit by a number of bullets died on the spot.

The condition of the injured was serious. They were in the civil hospital.

The deceased were identified as Habibullah, Mustafa and Mohammad Ali and the injured as Mohammad Amir, Raza Hussian and Asmatullah.

Immediately after the incident, hundreds of people of the Hazara community took to the streets and blocked Brewery Road and the road leading to Hazara Town.

They marched on roads and raised slogans against the government.

Activists of the Hazara Democratic Party held a demonstration outside the press club.

They demanded action against police personnel for their failure to protect people’s lives.

HDP information secretary Reza Wakil said that at least 600 Hazaras had been killed in acts of violence over the past few years. He said that government inaction had encouraged the terrorists who were now killing people in broad daylight.

Mr Wakil accused police of being involved in the killing of Hazaras and said that without their backing the terrorists could not attack them with impunity.

He said effective measures should be taken by the government to arrest the criminals who had killed hundreds of people.

The HDP leader said it was government’s responsibility to protect life and property of citizens. He called upon human rights organisations to raise their voice against the drive to exterminate the Hazaras.