Attack on Balochistan coal mine leaves at least 20 dead

Six others injured in assault on mine owned by private company

Friends and relatives of the slain miners pictured at a hospital

AT least 20 miners were killed and six injured in a terrorist attack on a small, private mine in Balochistan’s Duki area on Friday, according to police.

Police said a group of armed men stormed the mine owned by Junaid Coal Company and used heavy weapons to cause death and destruction there.

“A group of armed men attacked the Junaid Coal Company’s mine in the Duki area in the wee hours, using heavy weapons,” said Station House Officer of the area’s police station Humayun Khan. The assailants also used rockets and grenades in the attack.

Johar Khan Shadizai, a doctor in the nearby District Hospital, said: “We have received 20 bodies and six injured so far at our hospital.”

Duki District Council Chairman Khairullah Nasir confirmed the incident, adding the attackers used “hand grenades, rocket launchers and other modern weapons” in their attack. They also set 10 coal engines and machinery afire.

Duki’s Deputy Commissioner Kaleemullah Kakar and its assistant commissioner visited the site where they led the operations to recover the remaining bodies of the deceased.

In response to a question, Mr Kakar said the victims belonged to various regions of Pakistan, as well as Afghanistan.

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