Miscreants set ablaze oil tankers in Balochistan

Published July 21, 2013
A Pakistani commuter drives past a burning oil tanker on the outskirts of Quetta.   — File Photo by AFP
A Pakistani commuter drives past a burning oil tanker on the outskirts of Quetta. — File Photo by AFP

QUETTA: Armed miscreants on Sunday set on fire two oil tankers in Dasht area of Balochistan's Mastung district whereas security forces claimed to have foiled a terror bid and arrested at least 28 suspects in different raids conducted in the province.

Abdul Qadir, a Levies official told Dawn.com that four armed militants opened fire at two tankers in Dasht area of Mastung district due to which the tankers caught fire.

There was no human loss since the drivers managed to quickly flee the tankers during the attack.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack whereas the attackers managed to flee from the scene.

Similar incidents have occurred in the province recently.

FC raids

Frontier Corps claimed to have foiled a major terror bid and seized a huge quantity of arms and explosives during a raid conducted at a house in Eastern Bypass area of Quetta on Sunday.

A senior FC officer who did not want to be named told Dawn.com one suspected militant was also arrested during the raid, which was conducted on the basis of intelligence reports.

He further said that 350 kilograms potassium, 15 walkie-talkie sets, 119 detonators, 4 remote control devices and other arms and ammunition were recovered during the raid.

The FC officer stated that terrorists were planning an attack in Quetta city during the holy month of Ramazan and that the arrested suspect was being interrogated regarding his connection with militant outfits.

Moreover, the FC and police personnel arrested twenty eight suspects during another security operation conducted in the Geo area of Quetta on Saturday night.

Fayyaz Sumbal, the Deputy Inspector General Police, told Dawn.com that security forces recovered weapons and explosive materials from the suspects during the operation. All twenty eight suspects were interrogated by the senior police officers.

Sumbal said a large number of forces participated in the search operation and scoured all the suspicious areas without facing any resistance.

Police were informed by credible sources that some miscreants had established safe havens in the area to carry out target killings and bomb blasts in the city.

Sumbal said that after investigation innocent people would be set free whereas criminals would be produced before the court of law.

Forces have conducted search operations in the wake of repeated incidents of terrorism in Balochistan. The provincial government has strictly directed police and FC persons to rein in those elements who are creating law and order problems.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.