Pakistan train hijack: In Pakistan, separatist militants opened fire on a passenger train carrying hundreds of passengers on Tuesday. There were about 400 passengers in the nine bogies of Jafar Express. The train was going to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Quetta in South-Western Balochistan province, when it was shot. According to media reports, police and railway officials said that a train driver was injured.
The militant separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and said that they have taken people hostage from the train. The BLA claimed that he took over 100 people hostage and 6 security personnel were killed in his operation. He says that security officers are also among those held hostage.
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- Giving information, security officials said that security forces on Tuesday rescued 104 passengers held hostage by suspected Baloch militants in the disturbed Balochistan province and killed 13 terrorists.
- According to officials, in nine coaches, about 500 passengers were going to Peshawar from Jafar Express Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when it was firing between Gudlar and Piru Konari areas on Tuesday morning. Security officials said that so far 13 terrorists have been killed by security forces and 104 passengers have been rescued. He informed that rescue operations are going on.
- According to security sources, security forces have rescued 104 hostages from the occupation of terrorists, including 58 men, 31 women and 15 children.
- Shahid Rind said that about 400 passengers are still on the train, which is inside the tunnel. He said that the encounter between security forces and terrorists is going on. Rind said that the rescue team has been sent to the spot amid reports of fierce firing on the passenger train going to Peshawar.
- Pakistan Railway has set up an emergency desk at Quetta railway station as anxious relatives are arriving to gather information about their loved ones.
- No casualties or injuries have been reported officially, but a senior police officer has confirmed that an emergency has been declared and additional security forces have been deployed at the scene.
- Security forces said that the terrorists have been divided into small groups after starting a campaign to rescue the hostages and target those responsible for the attack.
- According to the Reuters report, the source said, “This campaign will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.”
- The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) issued an ultimatum of 48 hours to the Pakistani government demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners in exchange for 214 hostages.
- The group said in a statement, ‘The BLA has maintained complete control over the train and all the hostages for the last eight hours. Under the rules of war, these 214 hostages are considered to be the war captive and the BLA is ready for the exchange of prisoners.
(With input PTI)
