Four policemen were routine patrolling on two motorcycles at the Eastern Bypass when four unidentified armed men riding two motorcycles attacked them with modern weapons. The attack was so sudden and intense that the policemen could not retaliate.

Three policemen were killed on the spot, while the fourth one who received bullet injuries was admitted to the Civil Hospital where his condition was stated to be critical. The deceased were identified as Abdullah Khan, Abdullah Jan and Shahjahan Khan.

In another incident, three coalmine workers died and another was injured in a pre-dawn coalmine explosion in Marwar area of the provincial capital.Officials of the provincial mines department said four coalmine workers were working in a private coalmine at Marwar when an explosion took place and a portion of the mine caved in. Three workers died on the spot while another sustained serious injuries. The deceased were identified as Bari Alam, Muhammad Tareen and Shah Jahan Khan. The injured worker was shifted to hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, three people of a family died after they fell into a sewage manhole here on Saryab road. Police said that a young girl fell into an open sewage manhole and two panicked women accompanying the girl jumped into the manhole to save the girl but all three were trapped and died due to suffocation. Rescuers pulled out the bodies from the manhole and shifted them to Civil Hospital.

APP adds: A man was killed in a firing incident in Zhob district. Police said that the victim, identified as Khan Zaman, was on his way to home when unknown armed men opened fire at him, killing him on the spot.

Separately, a Hindu trader was injured by unknown armed men in the main bazaar of Mastung district. Police said that a Hindu businessman was at his shop when unknown armed assailants riding a motorbike opened fire at him and fled from the scene. As a result, he sustained bullet wounds and was shifted to the District Hospital.