LOC09:48
06:48 GMT
ISLAMABAD, May 30, (KUNA) -- At least 19 people were killed and several injured when around 20 unidentified armed men abducted passengers of two buses in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, said officials on Saturday.
Home Minster Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti in a statement said that the armed men intercepted two Karachi-bound buses in Mastung area and ordered passengers to alight. He further told that they searched the passengers and after identification took them away towards nearby mountain range. He said that after receiving information security forces rushed to the area and pursued the kidnappers.
Security forces found the bodies of 19 passengers in the mountains late on Friday night, he added. The passengers, including laborers and traders were coming from Pishin and Quetta cities and going to Karachi city.
Chief Minister of Balochistan province, Abdulmalik Baloch has strongly condemned the incident and directed the authorities to ensure immediate and safe recovery of the passengers. He has also declared three days of mourning in the province over the incident. Resource rich Balochistan province has been facing militants' insurgency for over a decade and militants have targeted security personnel and civil population several times in past. (end)
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