QUETTA/DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A police constable was martyred, two people were killed and 22 injured in separate attacks in Quetta and Tank, on Friday.

In the first attack, unidentified attackers targeted a polio vaccination team in Killi Sour Karez area on the outskirts of Mastung, some 60km away from Quetta, according to police.

The team members were administering anti-polio drops during a campaign when armed men riding motorcycles opened fire.

The attack resulted in the martyrdom of a police constable who was guarding the team.

Militant, passer-by killed in Tank

The cop’s body was moved to Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung where he was identified as Shahzad Ahmad Bangulzai.

The vaccination campaign was suspended after the attack but later resumed under tight security.

The victim’s family and other people blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway to protest against the killing and demanded the immediate arrest of the attackers.

Later, they opened the road after successful negotiations with the district administration.

Two killed in grenade attack

In the second attack, a militant and a passerby were killed, while 22 people including two police officers sustained injuries in a grenade attack on a police van and followed by an exchange of gunfire between the police and militants in district Tank on Friday.

According to a police spokesman, the police van was targeted on Bannu Road within the jurisdiction of the City police station.

Two motorcyclists reportedly hurled a hand grenade inside the vehicle of Inspector Sharif Ullah Kundi, which was immediately thrown outside the vehicle by driver of the van, Constable Afnan, however, it went off.

The police said that two constables Afnan and Jamil along with 20 others present on the road sustained injuries. Fortunately, Mr Kundi remained unharmed. The police said that the militants managed to escape from the scene.

“The rider-squad of the police followed the attackers and an exchange of gunfire took place at Golden Market area,” police said.

One militant identified as Umair of Kirri Haider was killed, while his accomplice managed to flee, police added.

The police said that a passerby Misbah Uddin from Peerankot was severely wounded and later succumbed to injuries.

The injured persons and the deceased were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital Tank by the rescue teams.

Constable Jamil, who was seriously wounded, was shifted to DHQ Hospital Dera Ismail Khan.

A heavy contingent of police, led by senior officers, arrived at the scene and initiated a search operation.

DPO Waqar Ahmed, along with officers of security forces and Tank police, visited DHQ Tank to inquire after the health of all injured persons.

He directed the hospital management to provide the best healthcare facilities to the wounded.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2023