Duki, October 11, 2024 — At least 20 labourers were killed in the early hours of Friday when unidentified armed assailants launched a rocket attack on coal mines in Balochistan’s Duki district. The victims, along with the injured, were transported to the Teaching Hospital in Loralai for treatment.
Security forces, including police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, have cordoned off the area and initiated a search operation. Initially, police reported two deaths, but Medical Officer Dr. Johar Sadozai later confirmed that the death toll had risen to 20, with seven miners injured.
According to the police, the attackers gathered the miners in one place and opened fire, using hand grenades and rockets. The assailants also set mining equipment on fire. Haji Khairullah Nasir, the owner of the coal mines and District Chairman, stated that there are ten mines in the area affected by the assault.
Among the victims, two were from Pishin, two from Qila Saifullah, one from Kuchlak, and three were Afghan workers, according to the medical officer.