QUETTA: A Levies Force official was martyred and three others injured when shooters ambushed a convoy escorting a returning officer in Dera Bugti district on Thursday.

Levies officials said the convoy came under attack on its way to Dera Bugti from the Phelawagh area of Pir Koh after polling in the third phase of the local government elections.

When the convoy reached near Lop area, unidentified shooters hiding in the mountains opened fire, martyring a Levies official and injuring three others.

The deceased official was identified as Muhammad Yousaf, who was driving the vehicle. The injured included Levies constables Muhammad Wasim, Mehran and Muhammad Tariq.

The returning officer Ejaz Ahmed, an agriculture officer, was unhurt.

Soon after the incident, a Levies team rushed to the site and shifted the body and the injured to the district hospital in Dera Bugti.

Security forces have launched a search operation in the area to trace the assailants.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2023