Officer Killed, Gas Supply Disrupted In Balochistan

QUETTA: A security officer was killed and four others wounded and a gas pipeline destroyed in two separate bomb attacks in Balochistan on Thursday.

‘FC vehicle blown up in the powerful explosion,' a senior security official said, adding that as a result of blast five FC men including an officer sustained serious injuries.
Soon after the explosion, FC troops deployed in the area rushed to the site and shifted the injured security personnel to Sui for treatment.
However, an FC officer who was identified as Major Sajid Haider later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The condition of two other FC men is said to be serious.
‘It was an anti-tank landmine,' a senior security official said, adding that mine was planted at the road side.
A spokesman for banded outfit militant organization Baloch Republican Army (BRA), Sarbaz Baloch has claimed the responsibility of the landmine blast.
Calling from unknown place, he told media men that it was a remote blast in which 7 FC men killed and 9 injured. However, FC officials while contacted they confirmed the incident but disputed the number of casualties.

Gas pipeline attacked
Meanwhile, four districts of Balochistan were deprived of gas after unknown persons destroyed a gas pipeline in the outskirts of Quetta.
Police sources said that unknown people detonated an explosive device under the pipeline, suspending gas supply to Mastung, Kalat, Pishin and Ziarat districts.
‘A portion of the 18 inch diameter pipeline destroyed in the balst,' Sui Southern Gas Compnay (SSGC) officials said,
Affected areas remained without gas for more then 15 hours in the severe cold weather lashing Quetta and other parts of northern and central Balochistan.
However, gas was restored to the affected areas around 6 pm. During repairs of the damaged pipeline gas pressure also remained low in various localities of Quetta valley.

Friday, 06 Feb, 2009 | 01:59 AM PST |

http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/officer-killed-gas-supply-disrupted-in-balochistan-szh