Wheel-jam and shutter down across Balochistan, four cops hurt in grenade attack

QUETTA: A partial shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in the provincial capital on Wednesday to protest against the killing of three Baloch leaders. The Baloch National Front (BNF) had called for the strike. The majority of businesses and commercial centres remained closed in Kalat, Mach, Sibi, Dhader, Mastung, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Panjgur, Awaran, Mashkay, kharan, Nokshi, Gwader and Makuran. The traffic in these areas remained off the roads. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the entry and exit points of the provincial capital as well as at key locations. Enraged people in Quetta pelted the passing by vehicles with stones and shops business places have been set on fire. Schools and other education institutions remained closed while presence in offices was thin due to unavailability of public transport. Reports coming from else where in Balochistan also said that some minor incidents of violence took place but generally the situation remained calm as compared to previous days protests.Four policemen among 5 injured in Quetta grenade attackQUETTA: Unidentified militants threw a hand grenade at policemen deployed on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Wednesday, injuring four policemen and a passer by, police said. The officials said police personnel were on duty in the Hazar Ganji area when unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at them. Policemen Baqir Ali, Rajab Ali, Nadir Ali and Muhammad Asif, and passer by Islamud Dun, were seriously injured in the attack. The wounded, taken to a nearby hospital, were in critical condition, the officials said. The assailants managed to escape from the scene, they added. Shalkot police station has registered the first information report (FIR) against unidentified militants and the investigation is underway.