Polio workers were unharmed, but security officer was critically injured in the attack and succumbed to his wounds
QUETTA:
A police officer was martyred on Friday when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in the Roghani area of Chaman, officials confirmed to The Express Tribune.
According to the authorities, the polio workers escaped unharmed. However, the police officer deputed to provide security for the team sustained serious gunshot injuries and later succumbed to his wounds.
Security personnel reached the site following the attack and launched a search operation to trace the assailants. The body of the martyred officer was shifted to Chaman Civil Hospital for the completion of medico-legal procedures, they added.
Officials strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an assault on public health efforts. An investigation has been initiated, and law enforcement agencies have vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
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As a precautionary measure, polio vaccination activities in the affected area have been temporarily reassessed.
The incident comes amid a nationwide anti-polio campaign underway across Balochistan, as well as other parts of the country. Under the ongoing drive, more than two million children across the province are being administered anti-polio drops to protect them from the crippling disease.
It is pertinent to note that polio vaccination teams have been targeted in the past, including incidents reported in Quetta and several other districts of Balochistan, highlighting the persistent security challenges faced by frontline health workers and their protectors.
Despite these threats, authorities have reiterated their commitment to continuing the anti-polio campaign and ensuring the safety of vaccination teams through enhanced security measures.
