Duki district witnessed a deadly attack early Friday morning. Unidentified armed assailants targeted local coal mines, resulting in the deaths of 20 miners. The incident has shocked the community and raised alarms about rising violence in the region.
The injured miners and the deceased were quickly transported to Teaching Hospital Loralai for urgent medical care. Initial reports indicated that two laborers had lost their lives. However, Medical Officer Dr. Johar Sadozai later confirmed that the death toll had increased to 20, with seven others injured.
According to police, the attackers gathered the miners in one location before opening fire. They employed hand grenades and rockets during the assault. The owner of the coal mines, District Chairman Haji Khairullah Nasir, revealed that the attackers not only shot at the miners but also set the mining machinery ablaze.
The deceased included two individuals from Pishin, two from Qila Saifullah, one from Kuchlak, and three others who had come from Afghanistan for work, as stated by the medical officer.
Humayun Khan, the police station house officer in Duki, reported, “A group of armed men attacked the Junaid Coal Company mines, using heavy weapons.” He noted that they fired rockets and grenades at the mines.
Dr. Johar Khan Shadizai from Duki hospital confirmed, “We have received 20 bodies and six injured so far.”
This tragic event highlights a broader issue. Pakistan is currently experiencing a disturbing rise in terrorist activity. Fatalities in the first three quarters of 2024 have already surpassed those recorded throughout 2023. According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), at least 1,534 people have died from violence this year, compared to 1,523 in 2023.
The report also states that nearly 97% of these fatalities have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These regions have seen the highest percentage of violent deaths in a decade. Despite these alarming statistics, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) has reported a significant reduction in militant activity in Balochistan following a surge in August.
