Police detain 34 suspects in killing of Quetta polio workers

Published November 27, 2014
A policeman inspects a van after an attack on female polio health workers in Quetta on Wednesday. - AFP/File
A policeman inspects a van after an attack on female polio health workers in Quetta on Wednesday. - AFP/File

QUETTA: Police on Thursday detained 34 suspects in connection with the killing of polio health workers in Quetta.

According to police spokesman, Quetta police conducted raids in Sariab road, Eastern Bypass, Killi Mullakhail and other areas in the aftermath of the killing of four polio workers on Wednesday morning.

Gunmen killed three female and one male polio worker in Quetta's Eastern Bypass area. Three other workers suffered serious bullet wounds.

Read also: Polio workers boycott campaign in Balochistan as 4 workers gunned down

The spokesman said police recovered pistols and other weapons from the suspects possession.

"They are being interrogated by police officials," he said.

The arrests have come a day after lady health workers (LHWs) announced a boycott of anti-polio campaign in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

The LHWs complained that the government was unable to protect them and that they would continue their boycott for an indefinite period.

Meanwhile, police also registered a case in New Sariab police station against unknown terrorists for the killings.

The case was registered by SHO Noor Bakhsh under article 302 and other terrorism related articles.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch also chaired a high level meeting to discuss the security situation in the wake of the killings.

Police officers and officers of intelligence agencies participated in the meeting which discussed ways and means to ensure security for polio workers in the province.

"We will ensure security to WHO and Unicef staff in Balochistan," Dr Baloch told the meeting.

He assured that the government would increase security measures for the protection of polio workers and vowed to bring the perpetrators of Wednesday's attack to justice.

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