BOLAN: At least nine personnel of the Balochistan Constabulary (BC) were martyred and 13 were wounded in a bomb attack in Bolan on Monday, police said.

Kachhi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mahmood Notezai confirmed the casualties to Dawn.com.

“The constabulary van was on its way back to Quetta from Sibi when an explosion occurred near the vehicle on the Kambri bridge in the area bordering the Sibi and Kachhi borders,” he said.

According to the official, preliminary evidence suggested that the blast was a suicide attack. However, he said the exact nature of the attack will be ascertained after investigation.

SSP Notezai said the injured persons are being moved to the Sibi Civil Hospital, while bomb disposal squads and security personnel have arrived at the site.

The area has been cordoned off and a search operation is underway, he added.

A government helicopter has been sent to Bolan to move the injured persons to Quetta, a statement issued by the Balochistan Information Department said.

An emergency has also been imposed at hospitals across Quetta.

The Balochistan Constabulary (BC) is a department of the provincial police force that provides security at important events and in sensitive areas, including jails.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The blast comes on the heels of attacks in KP and areas bordering Afghanistan. Since the talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke down in November last year, the militant group has intensified its attacks while insurgents in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with it.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo has condemned the attack and expressed grief at the number of casualties.

He said terrorist elements wanted to accomplish their wicked aims through cowardly actions, adding that they were conspiring to keep Balochistan under-developed by creating unrest and instability in the province.

“All such conspiracies will be made unsuccessful with the public’s support,” the chief minister vowed in a statement.

Bizenjo conveyed his sympathies to the families of the martyred, asserting that they were national heroes. “The sacrifices of the martyred will not go to waste,” he promised.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident as well and paid tribute to the valour of the martyred policemen, APP quoted the premier’s press release as saying.