QUETTA/GWADAR: Armed men attacked Lev­ies and police stations in Mastung, Kalat, Pasni and Suntsar, while gun and grenade attacks were also reported from the area along Quetta-Zahedan rai­l­way track and other parts of Balochistan late on Sunday night.

According to reports, armed men attacked Pasni police station and after thrashing personnel burnt three vehicles and motorcycles parked there. Another police station in Suntsar, a coastal town of Gwadar, was ransacked and the attackers took away official weapons.

Officials said that armed men attacked Levies Thana Khadkocha and took personnel hostage while in Kalat armed men exchanged fire with law enforcement agencies.

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“Kalat Assistant Commissioner Aftab Lasi sustained injuries in an exchange of fire,” Kalat Commissioner Naeem Bazai confirmed to Dawn over the phone. He added that the official was in stable condition.

Armed men also reportedly attacked the house and hotel of a tribal elder Zabar Khan Mohammad Hasni in which no human loss was reported but officials have yet to confirm the attack.

Reports of blasts and grenade attacks were received from Sibi Pan­jgur, Mastung, Turbat, Bela and Quetta. Officials said armed men blew up a railway track linking Pakistan with Iran at the bypass area of Mastung.

Later, the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Baloch­istan Levies earlier arrested three suspected criminals and recovered illegal weapons during an operation in the Panjgur area on Sunday.

Officials said the arrested men were wan­ted in different cases.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2024