22 abducted passengers killed by militants in Mastung

By
AFP
|
22 abducted passengers killed by militants in Mastung
QUETTA: The death toll from the Mastung tragedy rose to 22 after the body of another passenger was recovered.

Unidentified gunmen late Friday stormed two Karachi-bound passenger coaches arriving from Quetta near Mastung.

Levies sources told Geo News that two buses, arriving from the capital of Balochistan were stopped near Mastung’s Khad Koocha area by militants. They hand-picked several passengers from the buses took them away with them, they added.

They killed 20 passengers later, according to Levies sources.

Akbar Harifal, deputy district commissioner said security forces had rescued five passengers after an exchange of fire.

The bodies of the deceased were brought to Civil Hospital, Quetta, where their families statged a protest and blocked Jinnah road as well.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti confirmed the incident and the death toll. He said most of the abducted passengers were Pashtoons.

He added that the gunmen were wearing uniforms of the security forces.

Bugti alleged that Indian Intelligence Agency RAW was behind the killings and that the incident has taken place after Kashmiri people, in occupied Kashmir, waved and hoisted Pakistani flags again in the valley.

According to official sources, five of the kidnapped passengers were released, while two were said to be in injured condition.

According to survivors, four to six gunmen dressed in security forces uniforms stopped the buses and took all the passengers to the mountains, where 30 to 35 more terrorists were waiting.

The survivors added that after checking CNIC cards, they began killing the passengers.

A three day mourning has been announced throughout the province.

Taking notice of the incident, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sought a swift probe report of the incident.

He expressed deep grief over the tragic incident saying the government stands united with the victims' families. The premier also vowed to bring the culprits behind the incident to justice.