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| 22 May 2004 | Saturday | 02 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
6 rockets fired near Gwadar airport
QUETTA, May 21: At least six rockets were fired and heavy gun fire heard near Gwadar airport in the early hours on Friday, police said. No causality or damage to the airport was reported
, however a truck driver was injured as the windscreen of his vehicle was smashed when it was hit by a stray bullet in the area.
"We have found six shells of RPG-7 rockets and 37 empty cartridges of AK-147 assault rifle from Gwadar-Nagor road," District Police Officer Shakeel Durrani told Dawn on telephone, adding that it seemed two groups of smugglers had fought a gun battle 4km away from the airport.
"We have not found impact of the rocket explosions so far," he said, adding that search was in progress to find out if any other rocket was fired. None of the rockets landed or exploded on the Gwadar airport premises. "Gwadar airport, its building, terminal and airport traffic control is safe and operational," Airport Manager Shahid Kamal told this reporter, adding that all Gwadar-bound fights reached the town according to schedule.
He confirmed hearing heavy firing and explosions at around 2.30am and said that after the explosions he informed the police high-ups and local administration immediately.
The police, levies and Frontier Corps personnel rushed to the site soon after receiving information about the explosions and heavy firing and started investigation.
Sources said that the truck driver, Mohammad Anwar, told the police that he was passing through the area when something hit the windscreen smashing it and injuring him. However the injuries were not life threatening and he was allowed by doctors to go home in the evening.
The security was further beefed up with additional deployment of police and Frontier Corps personnel. The patrolling in the area was intensified and more checkpoints were established.
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