2 female polio workers, 3 FC men martyred in Quetta

QUETTA: Two female polio workers were shot dead by some unidentified armed men in Bareech Town near Hazargunj Fruit Market area here on Thursday. While three FC personnel were martyred by unidentified assailants during routine duty.

According to police, the deceased polio workers were performing their duty when some armed assailants riding a motorbike opened fire upon them and fled away from the scene. As a result, both the workers were killed on the spot. The bodies of deceased were shifted to Bolan Medical Complex (BMC) Hospital.

The polio workers were identified as Sakeena and her daughter Rizwana. The bodies were handed over to the heirs after completion of medico-legal formalities.

Following the incident, law enforcement agencies reached the site and cordoned off the entire area and launched search to arrest outlaws.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday strongly condemned the attack on a polio team in Quetta, which resulted in the loss of two precious lives.

The premier called for a report on the incident from the chief secretary and inspector general Balochistan.

Prime minister directed the concerned authorities to make every possible effort for apprehending the culprits involved in the incident.

Expressing sympathies with the bereaved families, the prime minister said polio teams were rendering a huge national service to save children from the crippling disease. He said attack on these dedicated workers who risked their lives for the nation, was an attack on the country's future.

The prime minister directed the government of Balochistan to provide comprehensive security cover to the polio teams.

Monitoring report adds: The unidentified armed attackers martyred three Balochistan Constabulary personnel and injured another at a flyover on Double Road of Quetta on Thursday morning.

According to officials, the personnel were part of Rapid Response Force and going to perform their routine duties when targeted by unidentified armed men.

The attackers riding a motorcycle opened fire on them and sped away, police said. As result of the intense firing, all received gunshot injuries and three of them succumbed to their wounds during the medical treatment at the Civil Hospital, officials said.