20 miners dead in armed attack on coal mines in Balocistan’s Duki district

Unknown armed attackers launched a deadly attack with rockets on coal mines in the Balocistan’s Duki district in the wee hours of Friday, killing 20 miners.

Rescue workers shifted the bodies and the injured miners to nearby Teaching Hospital Loralai.

Police and FC personnel cordoned off the area and started a search operation.

Medical Officer at Teaching Hospital Loralai Dr Johar Sadozai confirmed deaths of 20 miners and injuries to seven. Earlier, police said that two labourers were killed in the attack.

The attackers gathered the miners at one place and opened fire on them. The assailants also used hand grenades and rockets in the attack, the police said.

District Chairman Haji Khairullah Nasir, who is also owner of the coal mines, said that there are 10 coal mines located in the area where the assailants attacked and also set the mining machinery on fire.

The medial officer said that two of the deceased belonged to Pishin and two others were residents of Qila Saifullah. One of victims was from Kuchlak and three others came for work from Afghanistan, he added.