Three Policemen Taken Hostage and Weapons Snatched in Attack on Checkpoint in Turbat, Quetta

Police – Accident – Death – Obituary News : Armed Assailants Take Police Hostage and Seize Weapons in Turbat Attack

QUETTA: In a terrifying incident on Wednesday, a police checkpoint in Turbat was targeted by armed assailants who not only took three constables hostage but also confiscated their official firearms, according to officials.

The armed attackers arrived at the Singani Sarmomin police checkpoint, where they held the constables, identified as Naeem, Nadeem, and Sameer, at gunpoint. In addition to the hostages, the assailants snatched two sub-machine guns and magazines from the policemen.

As soon as news of the incident reached the authorities, the police and security personnel swiftly mobilized, initiating a thorough search operation. However, until midnight on Wednesday, no arrests had been made in connection with the attack.

Amidst the chaos, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that eight militants were killed during an operation in Tank, further intensifying security concerns in the region. The ISPR disclosed that the operation was based on credible intelligence, and the militants’ hideouts were successfully raided. In the ensuing exchange of fire, seven militants lost their lives. The troops also recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition from the deceased. The ISPR emphasized that these militants were actively involved in the targeted killings of police officials in Tank and its surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, in Quetta, security forces apprehended a man who forcibly entered the cantonment area without undergoing the necessary identity verification at the entry checkpoint. The suspect, identified as Essa Khan, drove a Suzuki Bolan vehicle (bearing the registration plate number BLB-387) into the Quetta cantonment area. This breach prompted security forces to immediately heighten their alertness level, resulting in the closure of all entry points to the cantonment. Pursuing the suspect, security forces successfully intercepted him near a dairy farm in the Gulistan Road area and took him into custody. Subsequently, the suspect was handed over to the authorities for further investigation.

With the situation escalating, security forces are conducting a sanitization operation in the Kirri Machan Khel area of Tank district to eliminate any remaining militants. The ISPR stressed their commitment to eradicating the presence of militants in the region to safeguard the lives of civilians and law enforcement officials.

The incident in Turbat serves as a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges faced by law enforcement agencies. Efforts are underway to enhance security measures and prevent such incidents from recurring. The collaboration between the police, security forces, and intelligence agencies remains crucial in achieving long-term peace and stability in the region.

This article is a collaborative effort by Muhammad Irfan Mughal in Dera Ismail Khan and was published in Dawn on November 16th, 2023..