KARACHI:
Jaffer Specific was not inside a tunnel, however underneath an open sky, when it got here underneath siege by militants who outnumbered the practice’s safety element by the lots of, a police officer who survived the assault has revealed.
Talking on situation of anonymity to BBC Urdu, the officer narrated his harrowing expertise – from the second of the ambush to his daring escape from captivity. He recalled how he and his colleagues fought again towards the terrorists till their ammunition was depleted, leaving them defenceless and on the mercy of the attackers.
Contradicting official claims that the practice was inside a tunnel on the time of the assault, the officer said that the Jaffer Specific was halted abruptly by an explosion on the tracks. Moments later, a barrage of rocket hearth rained down as militants swarmed in from the encircling mountains.
“They have been all over the place,” he stated. “Tons of of them, whereas we have been simply seven5 policemen and two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel.”
Realising the chances, the safety group determined to make each bullet rely. The group fired single photographs, making an attempt to maintain them at bay, stretching the restricted ammunition as a lot as they might.
For an hour and a half, they held their floor, exchanging hearth with the attackers.
Nevertheless, as their bullets ran out, the militants sensing their alternative, descended from the mountains and took management of the practice.
As soon as the safety personnel have been subdued, the militants pressured passengers off the practice, checking their id playing cards and separating them based mostly on ethnicity.
The terrorist threatened to execute the passengers and burn the practice if their calls for weren’t met by the federal government, whereas troopers on board have been tied up.
As night time fell, many of the attackers withdrew, leaving a gaggle of 20 to 25 males behind to protect the captives. Within the darkness, some hostages tried to flee however have been met with a hail of bullets. They opened hearth and the folks collapsed on the bottom.
At daybreak, FC reinforcements arrived, drawing the militants’ focus. Seizing the chance, the officer and some others made a break for it.
“We ran with all the pieces we had,” he recalled. “They fired at us, and considered one of my companions was hit, however we did not cease. We stored going till we reached the railway station, the place FC personnel took us to security in Mach.”
In the meantime, survivors of the hijacking additionally shared their traumatic experiences. A rescued passenger described the chaos contained in the practice as gunfire and explosions echoed round them.
Passengers recount ordeal
The passengers of the Jaffar Specific, who have been freed after being held hostage by terrorists, have shared their harrowing eyewitness accounts of the assault.
One of many rescued passengers described the chaotic scene through the assault, stating that passengers have been pressured to lie on the ground of the practice for cover. In line with the passenger, gunshots and explosions have been heard because the assault unfolded.
The passenger additionally recalled that the attackers ordered everybody to disembark from the practice, although many have been hesitant. “I took my kids and received off. I advised myself that since they’re telling us to get down, we must always pay attention, in any other case, they’d come inside and begin taking pictures,” the passenger defined.
The assault, which focused the practice, led to a tense and scary scenario for the passengers, a lot of whom feared for his or her lives.
The passengers of the attacked Jaffar Specific, who have been free of the terrorists, have shared their eyewitness accounts.
One of many rescued passengers narrated the ordeal, saying that through the assault, there was chaos throughout, and everybody was mendacity on the ground of the practice to guard themselves. At that second, there have been gunshots adopted by explosions.
The passenger additional defined that the terrorists ordered everybody to get off the practice, however many have been hesitant. He stated, “I took my kids and received off. I advised myself that since they have been telling us to get down, we must always pay attention, in any other case, they’d come inside and begin taking pictures.”
He added, “We received off, and after that, they left me, my kids, and my spouse, telling us to not look again.”
A senior passenger who was additionally rescued said that the terrorists instructed the youngsters to get off the practice, explaining that there was no security both inside or outdoors the practice.
The group descended and, happily, was spared. They continued strolling for hours, ultimately falling right into a canal, however after strolling for about 4 hours, they reached a protected location.
(With enter from Information Desk)