One security man killed as militants attack oil tankers in Bolan

BOLAN: A security man was killed late Monday night when militants attacked two tankers carrying fuel for Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in Bolan district of Balochistan province.

A levies official, who requested not to be named, told Dawn.com that militants opened fire on two tankers in Bolan. Subsequently, one security man guarding the tankers was killed and another was injured during an exchange of fire between frontier corps (FC) persons and armed militants.The official said the tankers were coming from Sibi to Quetta to provide fuel to PAF.

One tanker was partially damaged whereas another was safeguarded in the wake of the attack. Security persons and militants exchanged heavy fire which continued for more than two hours.

Later, additional security men were summoned in the area to apprehend the suspected militants responsible for the incident.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

However, levies officials suspect Baloch insurgents who have been targeting security forces and vital national installations in the area.

Armed militants have been kidnapping and targeting security persons in the rugged mountains of Bolan for the past few years. The writ of the government appears to be weak in the area.