QUETTA, July 1: Railway tracks were blown up at two places on Saturday forcing suspension of train service between Quetta and Zahidan.

Officials said that saboteurs had blown up part of a railway track just 20 minutes before the arrival of a train heading for neighbouring Iran.

The fortnightly passenger train, heading for the Iranian border town of Zahidan, had already left Quetta but was stopped soon after its departure as railway workers detected a bomb 35 kilometres down the track, official Shoaib Khan told newsmen.

Reliable sources said that saboteurs planted five powerful bombs on the Quetta-Zahidan line between the Shiekh Wasal and Galangur railway stations four of which exploded in the early morning destroying tracks at two places.

“At one site at least a 36-feet-long portion of the tracks blew up. The explosion was so powerful that it rocked the entire area,” official sources said.

Sources further said that in another powerful explosion around two feet of railway tracks were damaged near Spezend suspending the movement of goods trains.

“We are trying our level best to restore the train service as soon as possible,” railway officials said, adding that the tracks between Shiekh Wasil and Galangor were being repaired and the train service would be restored by Sunday morning.

A man identifying himself as Azad Baloch and a spokesman of the BLA claimed responsibility for the railway tracks blasts.

CHECKPOST ATTACKED: Armed men attacked a Frontier Corps checkpost in the Mastung area on Saturday. However, none of the nine rockets fired could hit the post.

MACH: A powerful bomb exploded near a checkpost of the Frontier Corps in Mach on Saturday evening. However, no loss of life and property has been reported, police said.

SECURITY FORCES: Security forces have launched a fresh operation in some regions of Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts against rebellious tribesmen.

Gunship helicopters were being used in the operation for wiping out the Farari camps and hideouts of armed tribesmen.