QUETTA: Three Balochistan Constabulary personnel were martyred in an attack on a checkpoint on Sariab Road on Sunday.

According to the police, the personnel were attacked by men on motorcycles when they were searching vehicles near Chaki Shahwani.

The attackers suddenly appeared and opened Ere on thepersonnel, killing one of them and injuring two others.

A man selling watermelons near the spot was also severely injured.

Police and Frontier Corps personnel took the body and the injured to the Civil Hospital. The injured personnel died later in hospital, a police official said.

Police identified the victims as Ashig Ali, Mehboob Ali and Ghulam Mustafa. Two of them belonged to Dera Allah Yar andDera Murad Jamali.

The official incharge of the checkpoint, a soldier and a driver of the security force escaped unhurt in the attack.

`Four men on two motorbikes used automatic weapons in the attack,` Senior Superintendent of Police, Nasibullah Khan, said, adding that the attackers fled the scene after the crime.

Hospital sources said the victims were shot in the upper parts of their bodies.

The bodies were sent to their native towns after funeral prayers in Quetta.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehrisoughtareportonthe incident from the inspector general of police within 24 hours.

He condemned the targeted killing of the personnel and said the elements involved should be arrested immediately.

Expressing grief over the death of the security personnel, he said all resources would be utilised for arresting the attackers.

AFP adds: A spokesman for the Al Alami branch of the banned Lashl(ar-iJhangvi sent AFP a text message taking credit for the shooting.