QUETTA/ISLAMABAD - At least 21 coal miners were killed and seven others injured in an armed attack by miscreants on a coal mine situated in Duki area of Balochistan province, police said Friday.
Duki Station House Officer (SHO) Humayun Khan Nasar told reporters that unknown armed men attacked the local private Junaid Coal Company mine located some 7 km from Duki city in the wee hours with rockets and grenades. The incident of sabotear occurred at 11:45 pm between Thursday and Friday night, he added. The miscreants attacked the mine with hand grenades and rocket launchers and later opened fire at the ill-fated coalminers, the owner of the mine and also Duki District Council Chairman Haji Khairullah Nasir told wire services.
“The attackers also set fire to “10 coal engines and other machinery,” he said adding that soon after the incident, the district administration reached the site and shifted the dead bodies and injured to District Headquarters Hospital Loralai.
SHO Duki, Nasar said all victims were Pashtun and belonged to Pakistan and Afghanistan. Of them, he said 3 coalies belonged to Pishin district, 4 were from Kila Saifullah district, 4 from Zhob district, one each from Khuclak and Loralai while 2 hailed from Afghanistan. The hospital sources confirmed that seven injured have been brought to Loralai Tehsil Headquarters for medical treatment.
The law enforcement agencies have launched a search operation against the miscreants.
Further probe is underway.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned the terrorist attack killing several miners in the Duki area of Balochistan. The prime minister, in a statement, sought a report from the authorities concerned on the incident and reiterated his government’s resolve to purge the country of terrorism.
He expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his sympathies to the families of the slain miners. He prayed to Allah Almighty for peace for the departed souls and early recovery of the injured, instructing the relevant authorities to ensure their best medical treatment.