"As many as eight terrorists riding four motorcycles opened fire on two police teams. One of our injured policemen retaliated. Policemen were guarding health workers administrating polio drops in the ongoing four-day anti-polio campaign started on Monday," DIG West Feroz Shah told media. "Four policemen were killed in one attack and three died in a second ambush," he said. Director General (DG) Rangers Bilal Akbar also visited the crime scene. He vowed to arrest the elements involved behind the deadliest assault.
The attackers, who left seven policemen dead on the spot, managed to flee the scene. Following the incident, law enforcers including police and Rangers besides rescue teams rushed to the crime scene. The victims were shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for identification and medico-legal formalities. This is not the first time that police deployed for security of polio workers have come under attack from terrorists opposed to the campaign. Similar attacks took place in recent years.
Hospital sources said that victims succumbed to their injuries before they were brought to the hospital. The initial post-mortem examination suggested that the deceased sustained bullets on their upper torsos. Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali has taken notice of the incident and sought report from the provincial police chief.