Police convoy attacked by gunmen with rocket-propelled grenades in Punjab province in space recognized to have prison hideouts.
Gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades have ambushed a police convoy in japanese Pakistan’s Punjab province, killing at the least 11 officers and wounding seven, authorities say.
Nobody instantly claimed duty for the assault within the Rahim Yar Khan district’s Kacha city on Thursday.
The officers have been ambushed whereas on patrol in a abandoned space seeking robbers who function within the area. Police mentioned the gunmen have been possible robbers and never members of an armed group.
“The bandits attacked the automobiles with rocket launchers after one of many automobiles within the convoy broke down,” mentioned an announcement from the inspector basic’s workplace in Punjab.
Safety forces usually perform operations towards bandits in Punjab and Sindh province within the south. They disguise in rural, forested areas and generally perform kidnappings to earn cash by ransoms. They’ve additionally killed a number of cops in assaults over latest months.
Kacha is understood for robbers’ hideouts alongside the Indus River, the place a whole bunch of closely armed bandits evade police.
Police mentioned one of many police automobiles apparently broke down whereas passing by gathered rainwater alongside farm fields when dozens of bandits launched the assault, one of many deadliest of its type lately.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched an announcement calling for “speedy and efficient motion” towards these accountable.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in assaults by armed teams lately, however such a excessive variety of police casualties in a single assault is uncommon.
Earlier on Thursday, gunmen opened hearth on a faculty van in Punjab, killing two youngsters and wounding six folks, police mentioned. Nobody claimed duty for that assault.
An area police official instructed The Related Press the assault appeared to focus on the driving force of the bus and the motive was possible one among “enmity”.
Pakistan’s authorities has struggled for many years to subdue armed teams that function in quite a few provinces all through the nation. Some are prison organisations whereas others, corresponding to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, also called the Pakistan Taliban, purpose to depose the federal government.
