QUETTA, Jan 27: A government centre housing the offices of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and Benazir Income Support Programme was targeted with an improvised explosive device in the border town of Chaman on Sunday.

According to Levies sources, the IED in a fertiliser bag was planted along the wall of the centre near the Frontier Corps Headquarters.

“It was a time device which exploded with a big bang, damaging the building partially. However, no loss of life was reported in the blast,” officials at the district administration said.

Law-enforcement personnel cordoned off the area and started a search for the suspects.

CHECKPOSTS: Militants fired rockets at FC checkposts in Dolwai area of Barkhan district and Kahan area of Kohlu district. No casualty was reported.

Security officials said rockets had landed and exploded in open places.

The assailants escaped after security personnel returned fire.

Meanwhile, the bomb disposal squad defused an IED planted in a bicycle in Sariab area of the provincial capital on Sunday night.

PROTEST: Hundreds of tribesmen protesting against robberies, kidnappings for ransom and car snatching blocked the Quetta-Chaman Highway and a railway track.

They demanded immediate arrest of the criminals involved in these activities.

The protesters also stopped a Quetta-bound passenger train coming from Chaman. Some armed men opened fire at the locomotive when the driver tried to reverse it back to the Chaman railway station. The locomotive was damaged.