SUKKUR, March 18: Unknown people on Thursday tried to blow up a gas pipeline near Kandhkot. A powerful explosion dented a pillar attached to the pipeline and made a five-feet deep crater in the ground.

The incident rocked nearby villages and people came out of their homes, but no loss of life was reported. There are three gas wells in village Sher Mohammad Mamdani, from where the PPL supplies gas to Wapda. Some terrorists had planted locally-made bombs near the pipeline and tried to destroy it. But the gas supplying facility remained safe.

Kandhkot TPO Masroor Jatoi and SHO Qurban Khoso, along with a heavy contingent of police, cordoned off the area and informed the PPL authorities, who immediately rushed to the scene and started repairing the pillar.

bypass blocked: Hundreds of residents of Jam Mohammad Ali Lakhan village on Thursday blocked the Sarhad bypass on the National Highway for three hours. They were protesting against the murder of Qurban Kori who was killed by bandits on Wednesday night. The protestors were carrying the victim's body.

A group of bandits had entered the house of Kori and tried to rob him. When Kori offered resistance, the criminals opened fire and seriously injured him. He was taken to the Rahim Yar Khan hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning.

The protestors said the Sarhad police was informed about the incident within the half an hour of the firing, but the police failed to reach the spot. However, when Mirpur Mathelo TPO Yar Mohammad Rind rushed to the spot and assured the protesting villagers of arresting the culprits within two days, they dispersed peacefully.