Rickshaw blast in Sibi kills 11; 21 others wounded
12 October, 2012
QUETTA: As many as 11 people lost their lives and 21 others sustained critical wounds in a bomb blast on Nishtar Road in Sibi, on Thursday. According to police, a bomb was planted in a rickshaw parked on the road outside a hotel.
Soon after the bombing, security officials, including Sibi Division Commissioner Umar Gul, Deputy Commissioner Aziz Ahmed Jamali, DPO Ghulam Ali Lashari and FC official Colonel Afzal Muhammad rushed to the spot and the police and FC personnel cordoned off the area.
An administration official confirmed the incident and casualties.
"It was a remote-controlled blast in which nine people were killed and 22 wounded," Aziz Jamali told AFP by telephone.
He said the target was unclear.
The province is plagued by sectarian violence, attacks by Taliban mercenaries and a tribal insurgency.
Baloch rebels rose up in 2004, demanding political autonomy and a greater share of profits from the region's mineral resources.
The bodies and injured were taken to the Combine Military Hospital and the Civil Hospital.
"Around 20 to 25 kg of explosives were used in the blast," DPO Ghulam Lashari said, adding that the area was crowded and people were taking tea in main bazaar when the blast occurred.
"We are investigating the nature of blast and it is premature to say whether it was time bomb or remote control device," he said.
At least 10 shops, four cars, four motorcycles and two rickshaws were destroyed in the blast.
According to hospital sources, five injured people were in critical condition and they were referred to Quetta.
The deceased were identified as Khaliq Dad, Nadra, Shoba Khan, Syed Hameed Shah, Mehrullah, Ghulam Haider, Mirza Khan, Raheem Khan and Nadir.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.
End.
|
