Six Levies men martyred in Balochistan

QUETTA: Six Levies personnel were martyred and several others were seriously injured in an attack on a check-post in Ziarat district of Balochistan on Wednesday.

Unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate fire on the Levies check-post in Sanjavi area of the district, causing serious injuries to several personnel. They were shifted to nearby hospital, where six were pronounced dead while the condition of some of the injured was said to be critical.

Levies and Frontier Corps contingents rushed to the scene after the incident and cordoned off the area, besides launching an operation to trace the suspects.Later, funeral prayers of the six martyred personnel were offered in the district, which were attended by a large number of people, including provincial minister Haji Noor Muhammad Dummer, Commandant Loralai Scouts Colonel Amir Mukhtiar, commissioner Sibi division, deputy commissioner Ziarat, Levies and police officials and relatives of the victims. The bodies of the personnel were then sent to their native places for burial.

Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Jam Kamal Khan along with other provincial ministers strongly condemned the attack and offered condolence to the bereaved families. The chief minister said such cowardly attack could not weaken the morale of security forces which had been fighting against terrorism with bravery and courage for stability of the country, including Balochistan.

He directed the home department and local administration to immediately take all possible action to nab the suspects as well as ensuring protection of citizens in the area.