QUETTA: Three policemen were killed and the district police officer (DPO) of Sherani was seriously injured in an attack in Loralai area of Zhob division on Tuesday.

Those killed included two guards and a driver of DPO Shakir Kakar, who were in the official vehicle.

Official sources said the DPO had gone to Loralai to attend a meeting with a deputy inspector general. After the meeting, he was returning to Sherani when his official vehicle came under fire in Spira Ragha area, 37km from Loralai town.

DPO Kakar and his driver were critically injured and his two guards died on the spot as they had received multiple bullet injuries.

The DPO and the driver were taken to the Loralai District Hospital where the latter died.

Shakir Kakar, who suffered multiple bullet wounds, was shifted to Quetta in helicopter.

Police sources said the armed men hiding on the mountains opened fire on the DPO’s vehicle with automatic weapons.

Personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and police force mounted a search for the attackers with the help of helicopters but to no avail.

No one has claimed responsibility for the ambush.

However, local administration suspected that a militant group, which had killed six security personnel in an attack on their checkpoint last month, might have been involved in the fresh assault.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has taken notice of the attack and sought a report from the officials concerned.

He condemned the attack and called for arrest of the culprits.

Dr Malik Baloch said the DPO should be provided the best medical treatment and expressed sympathies with the families of the slain policemen.

Published in Dawn March 4th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play