QUETTA: The offices of two deputy commissioners were targeted with hand grenades in Panjgur and Surab districts on Monday.

According to officials, unknown motorcyclists hurled a hand grenade at the deputy commissioner’s office in Panjgur during the late hours, resulting in an explosion within the office’s courtyard.

The windowpanes of the office were smashed due to the impact of the explosion. However, no human loss was reported in the grenade attack.

The security personnel guarding the office of the deputy commissioner exchanged fire with the attackers for some time, after which the attackers escaped from the site.

The Panjgur deputy commissioner stated that despite the grenade attack, the national flag ceremony was held in the lawns of the DC office.

According to reports, a similar grenade attack occurred at the office of the deputy commissioner in Surab in the wee hours. The explosion from the grenade rocked the vicinity of the DC office. However, no casualties or other damage were reported as a result of the blast.

Recent days have seen a surge in attacks targeting police stations and Levies in different areas of Balochistan through grenades and bombs. Last week, a magnet bomb was used to target the Mazai Adha area in Qila Abdullah, resulting in injuries to five persons, including a Levies officer. The bomb was attached to the vehicle of the Levies officer.

Similarly, a police station in Kharan was subjected to a grenade attack a few days back, which damaged a portion of the facility. However, no loss of life was reported.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2023