Roadside blast kills three Rangers

A roadside bomb blast in Gulistan-e-Johar area on early Friday morning killed three Rangers and left four others wounded, police and eyewitnesses said. The incident took place in early morning at 7:00am in the jurisdiction of Sachal Police Stations, police said, adding that the blast was carried out through a remote-controlled device.
The bomb was planted near the Safora Chowrangi in the Gulistan-e-Jauhar area and exploded when the Rangers vehicle reached the site, police said, adding that about 8-10kg of explosive material was used in the blast. Residents said that a patrolling vehicle of Rangers usually stationed beneath the Keekar tree near Safora Chowk. Two private schools were located very close to the blast site, the added.
"If the device had triggered a little late, the school children might also be the victims of the blast, who were about to enter their schools to attend their morning academic sessions," the residents said. They said the device was planted to target the Rangers personnel. Following the blast, rescue teams, police and other law enforcement agencies' personnel rushed to the site of the incident.
Rangers sources told Business Recorder that three Rangers personnel were killed and four other injured, adding that it was a remote-controlled bomb blast. The injured were rushed to Combine Military Hospital (CMH) in Malir where the condition of one of the injured is stated to be critical.
The martyred personnel include Naik Abdul Rasheed, driver Mohammad Ibrahim, Sepoy Aijaz Ahmed, while Naik Azam, Lance Naik Mohammad Aslam, Sepoy Altaf and Fazil Javed were injured. The `Namaz-i-Janaza' of the three Rangers' personnel was offered at Bhitai Rangers' headquarters, which was also attended by Director General Sindh Rangers, Lieutenant General Ejaz Choudhry, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sindh, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, senior officials of the law enforcement agencies and others.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered an investigation into the incident. On the other hand, Provincial Home Minister, Manzoor Wassan announced Rs 2 million each for the heirs of the martyred personnel and R. 200,000 each for the injured on behalf of the Government of Sindh. Earlier this week, two minor explosions occurred in different areas in Karachi on 9th and 10th of Muharram. Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah also telephoned Director General Rangers Sindh and expressed condolence over the death of three Rangers' personnel.