Armed Attack on National Bank and Police Station in Bhag; Police Say 3 Militants Killed

Dera Murad Jamali — Armed militants attacked government buildings in Bhag city of Kachhi district early on Friday, setting fire to the National Bank and the local police station, police said. According to officials, three attackers were killed in a response by police and the Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF).

Police said dozens of armed men entered the old city at dawn and opened fire at several sites, including the police station, the Assistant Commissioner’s office and the National Bank. Officials said rockets and grenades were also used. The bank building was badly damaged, with records, computers and other equipment burnt. Vehicles, motorcycles and official files at the police station were also destroyed. The AC office suffered damage as well.

DIG Police Parvez Khan Umrani and SSP Kachhi Ghulam Murtaza Bhutto reached the area with additional personnel. Police sealed routes into the city, conducted a search operation and later said the area had been cleared.

Addressing a press conference, DIG Umrani claimed police and ATF fire killed three militants and wounded four others. He said their companions took the bodies and the injured with them. One policeman received a minor injury. Five civilians, including a woman and a passenger-wagon driver, were also wounded in the attackers’ firing. The injured were named as Asadullah Abro, Ghous Bakhsh Mochi, Abdul Fatah Abro, Ghulam Sarwar and a woman identified as the wife of Bashir. They were shifted to Civil Hospital Bhag and were said to be out of danger.

Umrani said police and ATF had held their ground and limited harm to the public and government property. He added that the Inspector General of Balochistan Police had announced a cash reward of Rs100,000 and commendation certificates for the officers and personnel involved.