SUKKUR: Rangers prevented a terrorist attack on an Imambargah as they killed three suspected militants, including two would-be suicide bombers, in an alleged encounter in Rohri on Friday, officials said.

They said that the encounter took place near Railway Bund of Ali Wahan near Rohri on the day of Chehlum of Imam Hussain.

A spokesman for the paramilitary force said in a statement that the Rangers received intelligence information that some militants could launch a terrorist attack in Karachi and interior of Sindh on the day of Chehlum. “The Rangers and other law enforcement agencies took maximum steps for ensuring security of the Chehlum processions and all important installations.”

He said that Rangers personnel deployed at a checkpoint on the way leading to Imambargah Bab-i-Karbala, Rohri, signalled some suspects to stop. The suspects tried to escape and the soldiers chased them.

Rangers claim an Imambargah was the target

The spokesman said that two of the three suspects tried to blow themselves up, but the timely firing of Rangers personnel prevented the explosions and killed them.

The statement said that two unexploded suicide vests were found from their possession. The bomb disposal squad was called to defuse the vests containing explosives.

The Rangers said that initial investigations revealed that the suspects were associated with a banned outfit and wanted to target the Imambargah Bab-i-Karbala.

The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained till late in the night, but Rangers sources said that they hailed from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said that two of the killed wore suicides vests. The third one appeared to be their facilitator and a pistol was recovered from his possession, the sources added.

Senior police officer of the district, however, remained tight-lipped about the incident.

The Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and the martyrs of Karbala passed peacefully in Rohri amid tight security.

In February, over 70 people were killed in a suicide attack on the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan. Earlier in 2015, over 20 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a Muharram procession near Shershah Haveli in Jacobabad’s Lashari Mohalla.

Meanwhile, police of different police stations of Ghotki district claimed to have arrested 26 criminals, including four proclaimed offenders.

The police action came in Mirpur Mathelo, Ubauro, Daharki, Khambra, Gemro, Khanpur Mahar and other areas in which arms and ammunition were also recovered.

Ghotki SSP Masud Bangash said that the held suspects were wanted for their alleged involvement in killings, dacoities etc.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2017