logo
Five injured in grenade attack in Balochistan day after BLF launches 'Operation Baam'

Five injured in grenade attack in Balochistan day after BLF launches 'Operation Baam'

Hindustan Times10-07-2025
Five people, including women and children, were injured on Wednesday after a grenade attack happened on a house in Turbat in Pakistan's Balochistan, Pakistani news portal The Dawn reported. A general view shows damaged vehicles at the site a day after a bomb blast in Qila Abdullah, in Balochistan province, on May 19, 2025. (AFP/File)
This comes a day after a series of coordinated attacks and explosions rocked multiple government installations across Balochistan late Tuesday night, with the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) claiming responsibility and announced the launch of "Operation Baam (Dawn)."
Citing authorities, The Dawn also reported that in a separate grenade attack on Wednesday, a police check post was also attacked in Sibi.
Police said a hand grenade was thrown by unidentified attackers on motorcycles at the residence of Muhammad Younis in the Absar area of Turbat, the divisional headquarters of Makran division in Kech district.
The grenade explosion took place in the backyard, injuring five people and damaging parts of the house.
Dawn reported that police rushed to the site and moved the injured persons to the District Hospital Turbat, wherein they were identified as Hajra, Mahlab, Fatima, Naz Gul, and Muhammad Ibrahim.
In another incident, unknown assailants hurled a grenade at a police checkpoint at the Sibi-Harnai railway crossing gate, Dawn reported.
Although the grenade exploded at the post, no injuries were reported and the attackers fled the scene on a motorcycle.
Referring to the police, Dawn reported that the incidents were being investigated and that no group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks.
Series of explosions rock Balochistan
On Tuesday, a series of coordinated attacks and explosions rocked multiple government installations across Balochistan late in the night. The BLF claimed responsibility, announcing the launch of "Operation Baam (Dawn)."
While Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm the full extent of the damage, ANI news agency cited local sources reporting significant disruption in the affected areas. Explosions reportedly targeted military checkpoints, communications infrastructure, and administrative facilities.
Security forces reportedly launched search operations in the targeted districts, and communication in parts of Kech and Panjgur remained disrupted till Wednesday morning at least.
Operation Baam signals a rising insurgent capability in Pakistan's volatile south-western province, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan, a region long marked by unrest and instability.
For decades, Balochistan has been at the centre of persistent human rights concerns, caught in repeated cycles of separatist violence and military crackdowns.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Give us back last 20 years': Son of Mumbai blasts accused, who died in jail 4 years before acquittal
‘Give us back last 20 years': Son of Mumbai blasts accused, who died in jail 4 years before acquittal

Indian Express

time6 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

‘Give us back last 20 years': Son of Mumbai blasts accused, who died in jail 4 years before acquittal

Abdullah Ansari was six years old when his father, Kamal Ahmed Mohammad Vakil Ansari, was arrested from Basopatti in Bihar's Madhubani district after being accused of involvement in the Mumbai train blasts of July 11, 2006, in which 189 people were killed. 'I don't remember much… At that age, children just about know how to walk properly,' he told The Indian Express on Tuesday. On Monday, nearly two decades after his father's arrest, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 men convicted in the case. This included a posthumous acquittal for Kamal Ansari, who died in jail in 2021 at the age of 50. 'The only thing I want to say is, give us back the last 20 years… Only we know what we went through during these years,' said Abdullah, who last met his father in 2017. He said the High Court judgment came too late. 'What was meant to be wrapped up by the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court in two-four years dragged on for much longer, and then it took another decade in the High Court. My father died in jail.' According to official records, Kamal Ansari died of Covid at Nagpur Central Jail in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. 'What happened was wrong, not just to my father but also to the others whose lives were destroyed by this process. Can anyone give back those 20 years to us, or to the 11 other families that also suffered?' Abdullah said. In July 2006, 189 people were killed and 824 injured in a series of blasts that ripped through seven Mumbai local train coaches. Kamal Ansari had been accused of receiving arms training in Pakistan, ferrying Pakistani terrorists across the Indo-Nepal border, and helping plant explosives that detonated at Matunga station in Mumbai. However, his son said Kamal was a worker trying to make ends meet by doing odd jobs in Madhubani and nearby areas. In 2015, a special MCOCA court sentenced Kamal Ansari and four others to death on charges of organised crime, criminal conspiracy, spreading terror and murder, under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Explosives Substances Act, 1908, MCOCA, and Railways Act, 1989. After his father's arrest, Abdullah said that 'his mother and three brothers endured severe financial hardship'. The eldest among the siblings, Abdullah now works in a private company in Delhi, as does his brother Obedullah. Another brother, Abdul, works in Darbhanga, while the youngest, Sufian, is still studying.

Trans-border arms trafficking module busted in Punjab; eight weapons seized
Trans-border arms trafficking module busted in Punjab; eight weapons seized

Hans India

time36 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Trans-border arms trafficking module busted in Punjab; eight weapons seized

Chandigarh: Punjab Police, in two operations in Amritsar, including a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), seized eight illegal weapons from four accused involved in trans-border arms trafficking, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Wednesday. The pistols comprised five.30 calibre and three 9 mm calibre along with magazines have been seized from their possession. He said the first information reports (FIRs) have been registered at the police station in Gharinda in Amritsar. Further investigation is underway to expose the entire network and its linkages. Meanwhile, in a significant anti-smuggling operation, BSF Punjab Frontier, jointly with Punjab Police, on Tuesday apprehended two Indian narco-smugglers in Ferozepur along with two bikes and a weighing machine. Simultaneously, two DJI Mavic 3 Classic drones carrying heroin 571 grams and 564 grams, respectively, were seized from the Fazilka and Amritsar border. One drone was neutralised mid-air by BSF's technical surveillance. Glow sticks were attached to the narcotics packets to facilitate easy retrieval by the smugglers. These swift, intelligence-led operations highlight BSF's sincere commitment to securing the Punjab border and combating narco-terrorism by neutralising Pakistani drone intrusions. Earlier, in a major crackdown, the BSF, in joint operation with police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Amritsar, apprehended two criminals, a father-son duo, from Tarn Taran and seized two pistols, one without upper slide, three magazines and two mobile phones from their possession. In a follow-up action, based on disclosure from a previously nabbed smuggler, BSF and Ferozepur Police recovered 391 grams of heroin hidden near a canal in Pojoke village. "These swift and precise actions reaffirm the unwavering commitment of security forces to foil narco-terror plots and protect Punjab from the menace of drugs and crime," said the border guarding force. The BSF, responsible for safeguarding the 553-km-long varied, tough, and challenging India-Pakistan border in Punjab, is guarding borders round the clock with unflinching dedication after braving innumerable challenges, including inclement weather conditions and a spate of smuggling.

Video games, education incentives: How Russia is recruiting teenagers to design and test drones
Video games, education incentives: How Russia is recruiting teenagers to design and test drones

First Post

time4 hours ago

  • First Post

Video games, education incentives: How Russia is recruiting teenagers to design and test drones

A new investigation has found that Russian authorities are involving teenagers in designing and testing drones used in the war against Ukraine. Young participants are drawn in through seemingly harmless activities such as video games, state-organised competitions, and promises of educational or career perks. Top performers from these events are often picked by firms linked to Russia's defence industry read more A new investigation has revealed that Russian authorities have been involving teenagers in the development and testing of drones used in the war against Ukraine. The findings, reported by the exiled Russian news outlet The Insider, reveal that teenagers are brought in through what appear to be harmless activities like video games, government-organised contests, and offers of educational or career benefits. Those who show strong skills are later taken on by companies linked to Russia's defence industry. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ | When Russia went to war against Ukraine and changed the world In this explainer, we find out how teenagers are being pulled into the drone programme and what they had to say about their involvement. Let's take a look: How Russia is using children to design and test its military drones The process begins with government-backed competitions that appear to be harmless and gradually lead to practical work with military technology. The report describes how video games like Berloga, launched in 2022, are used as a gateway. In the game, 'intelligent bears' fight off bees using drones. Success in such games can earn players extra academic credits and open doors to competitions like 'Big Challenges'. Top performers from these contests are often selected by companies connected to the defence sector. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an increase in drone production. As both Ukraine and Russia continue to rely heavily on drones in the conflict, there is a constant push for better technology. Russia is now looking to its brightest teenagers to support this effort. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an increase in drone production. AFP/File Photo So, how is this done? It starts with Berloga, where players use drones in fictional scenarios. The game has drawn hundreds of thousands of young Russians. Those who excel can earn rewards that help with school exams. These top players are then invited to join more advanced programmes, which are designed to identify talented students. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, Putin personally approved the launch of Berloga, and the project has continued to receive strong backing from officials. Its biggest attraction, and what drives its popularity, is the offer of 10 bonus points in the EGE, Russia's unified state exam for high school students. According to the report, students admit the tasks in Berloga are challenging, but the chance to earn extra marks is a strong motivator. Teenagers are also helping to produce larger, combat-ready drones. A recent documentary on the Russian army's television channel showed young people working inside a factory that builds kamikaze drones. The plant, reportedly the largest producer of such drones in the world, is already under EU sanctions and has been hit by long-range Ukrainian drone attacks, The Guardian reported. Notably, employing children in military facilities that may be targeted during war breaches several international conventions. The footage showed rows of completed Geran-2 kamikaze drones and blurred images of teenagers sitting at workstations or assembling parts. The Geran-2, capable of flying nearly 1,000 miles, is based on an Iranian design and is now produced domestically at a factory in Alabuga, Tatarstan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russia's state broadcaster Zvezda said pupils aged 14 and 15 are studying drone production at a nearby college and later working at the plant. The footage also showed young workers with their faces blurred, either working on computers or putting together drones. 'We were forbidden to say that…' Although these competitions are presented as educational opportunities, students who spoke to The Insider admitted they were fully aware their work had military purposes but were told not to say so. A resident inspects a damaged car at the site of the Russian drone strike in Odesa, Ukraine. Reuters 'The kids are actively involved in modelling components of systems for various drones,' one teenager said. 'I know of several people, at least, who were modelling UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle] components for major enterprises.' Another student said, 'We were forbidden to say that it was needed for the war, and we invented civilian applications. It's a children's programme. A project must always have a dual purpose, especially when you're a school student. It's an unwritten rule I've observed at every competition.' Some also revealed working within military sites. One student recalled that, at the age of 13, he trained soldiers in drone operations at a state-run facility in 2022.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store