QUETTA - At least three passengers were shot dead and another sustained injures when gunmen attacked two passenger buses in Machh area of Kachi district, some 40 kilometers southeast of Quetta, on Thursday night.
According to Balochistan Levies sources, two passenger coaches were heading towards Lahore from Quetta when armed assailants opened indiscriminate fire on them with sophisticated weapons. Three passengers were killed on the spot and another sustained multiple bullet wounds. “Over two dozens armedmen who dismounted from nearby mountains in Gyatani area of Machh sprayed bullets on both buses,” Levies sources said, adding that the passenger coaches were heading towards Lahore via Sadiqabad from Quetta. Sources said the assailants also kidnapped four passengers before fleeing to the mountains under the cover of darkness.
When contacted Balochistan Home Secretary Captain (r) Akbar Hussain Durrani confirmed the incident and said three passengers were pulled down from the bus after being forcibly stopped and were killed while a truck driver received injuries. He said the attackers kidnapped two passengers, adding that Frontier Corps and police personnel had started a search in the area to trace kidnappers.
When contacted a local journalist in Machh, said attackers and Levies personnel also exchanged fire which lasted for two hours. The deceased and injured were shifted to the civil hospital in Machh. The deceased were identified as Muhammad Siddique, resident of Faisalabad, Muhammad Kashis and Muhammad Jamshaid, both residents of Quetta.
Deceased Jamshaid is stated to be a reporter in a daily newspaper.
No group had claimed responsibility for the attack till filing of this report.