Unidentified suspects threw a hand grenade at the police complaint camp near Quaidabad Chowk in the early hours of Friday. As a result of the grenade attack, three policemen were injured. The loud explosion spread fear and panic in the area.
Upon receiving the information, a heavy contingent of police and the Rangers arrived at the scene, and ambulances transported the injured officers to the hospital. Teams from the Bomb Disposal Squad, Crime Scene Unit and senior officials from the Counter-Terrorism Department reached the site to collect evidence.
Speaking to The News, Senior anti-terror officer Raja Umar Khattab stated that the Sindhudesh Revolutionary Army (SRA) might be behind the grenade attack on the police complaint camp. He stated that this was not the first such attack, as three to four similar incidents had previously occurred in the surrounding areas, where the SRA had a known presence.
The officer explained that the SRA was part of the BRAS, an alliance of Sindhi and Baloch nationalist militant groups, which also includes the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He added that as the BLA had intensified its activities, the SRA was also trying to show its presence by carrying out such attacks.
He was of the view that the grenade attack in Quaidabad specifically targeted the police camp and was likely part of the SRA’s broader strategy to challenge state security forces. Investigations are under way to confirm the SRA’s involvement in the attack.
Malir SSP Kashif Abbasi also arrived at the scene and gathered information regarding the attack. He said two of the injured cops had been identified as Waseem and Fayaz, while the third injured officer was from the Special Security Unit (SSU). The SSU officer was not present at the camp but was injured while passing by the scene.
The attackers reportedly threw the grenade at the police camp from the Quaidabad Bridge before escaping. According to bomb disposal authorities, explosive particles at the scene suggested that a Russian-made RGD-1 hand grenade was used in the attack. Bomb disposal officials further revealed that the lever of the grenade was not found, and the RGD-1 contained approximately 64 grammes of an explosive material.
Sindh Interior Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also took notice of the attack and sought a detailed report from the Sindh inspector general of police. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori directed the Malir SSP to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the immediate arrest of those responsible. He also stressed the need for taking all necessary steps to maintain law and order in Karachi. The governor also prayed for a swift recovery of the injured officers.