Gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades ambushed a police convoy in eastern Pakistan’s Punjab province, killing at least 11 officers and wounding seven, according to authorities.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack in Kacha town, Rahim Yar Khan district, on Thursday.
The officers were ambushed while patrolling a deserted area in search of robbers who operate in the region. Police believe the gunmen were likely robbers rather than members of an armed group.
“The bandits attacked the vehicles with rocket launchers after one of the vehicles in the convoy broke down,” said a statement from the inspector general’s office in Punjab.
Security forces frequently conduct operations against bandits in Punjab and Sindh provinces. These bandits often hide in rural, forested areas and sometimes engage in kidnappings for ransom. They have also been responsible for several attacks on police officers in recent months.
Source Al Jazeera
