QUETTA: Two Levies personnel escorting a polio vaccination team were martyred on Wedn­esday when unidentified assailants opened fire on them in the Teri area of Mastung district.

According to officials, the shooting was carried out when the polio team was administering vaccines during a week-long anti-polio campaign that started on Monday.

The attackers targeted the Levies officers guarding the vaccinators, killing one officer on the spot and leaving another critically injured. The wounded officer later died during treatment at Nawab Raisani Memorial Hospital in Mastung.

Law enforcement agencies rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area. Mastung Assistant Comm­issioner confirmed the attack, adding that a search operation had been launched to trace the attackers.

The operation, conducted jointly by the Levies, Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and Frontier Corps, led to the arrest of two suspects. One injured suspect reportedly managed to flee, with efforts ongoing to apprehend him.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack follows a similar incident last week, when three police personnel were killed and 20 others injured in a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting a police vehicle.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, honouring the bravery of the Levies personnel who lost their lives while protecting the polio team. He pledged that terrorists and their facilitators would be brought to justice and vowed that all efforts would be made to ensure the success of the polio eradication drive.

The chief minister extended prayers and heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs, assuring them of full governmental support during this difficult time.

Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind also strongly condemned the attack and stated that a thorough investigation was underway. He reiterated the provincial government’s resolve to ensure the polio campaign continues without disruption and paid tribute to the martyred officers for their sacrifice.

One of the martyred Levies officers, Maqsood Ahmed, was laid to rest with full official honours at Padangabad graveyard. The funeral was attended by Mastung Additional Deputy Commissioner Haji Abdul Manan Tareen, Assistant Com­missioner Muhammad Akram Harifal, Levies Superintendent Agha Rahmat Shah, Risaldar Major Pir Muhammad Alizai and officers from both the police and Levies forces.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025