Over 150 passengers rescued as Pakistani forces battle militants hijacking Jaffar Express
Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility; 27 militants killed in ongoing operation
Islamabad: Pakistani security forces have rescued at least 155 passengers and killed 27 militants following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack and continues to hold several hostages.
The train, carrying 425 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when militants ambushed it near the Mashkaf tunnel on Tuesday. The attackers blew up the railway track, forcing the train to a halt before seizing control of multiple compartments.
Security operations continued into Wednesday, with additional forces and helicopters deployed. A senior police official, Rana Dilawar, confirmed that the train remains stationary as armed militants hold passengers hostage. The BLA has claimed it is holding 214 hostages and has killed 30 security personnel, though Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm these figures.
The militant group has demanded the release of political prisoners and missing persons, threatening to execute hostages, including Army personnel, if their demands are not met within 48 hours.
In response, authorities have imposed emergency measures at hospitals in Sibi and Quetta, where injured passengers are being treated. Emergency desks have also been set up at railway stations in Peshawar and Quetta for relatives seeking information.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have condemned the attack, vowing strict action against those responsible. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that "those who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions."
Balochistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks over the past year. In November 2024, a suicide blast at Quetta Railway Station claimed 26 lives and injured 62 people.
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Cong min, MLAs meet Rajanna, BJP leader invites him to join party
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Bengaluru (PTI): Senior BJP leader B Sriramulu has invited K N Rajanna, who was recently sacked as minister from the Congress government, to join the party along with his son and MLC Rajendra Rajanna, even as a state minister and some ruling party legislators met the MLA.
This group of Congress MLAs along with Minister Satish Jarkiholi met Rajanna at his residence on Wednesday and held discussions.
"The whole community (ST/Valmiki) and its leaders are with you, come to BJP. You and your son come to BJP. Myself, Shivanagouda Nayaka, Raju Gowda and all our leaders, we will welcome you into the party and ensure that you will get more respect than us in the party," Sriramulu said.
He said Rajanna was sacked for speaking the truth.
Rajanna, who was Cooperative Minister was removed from the cabinet on Monday, following directions from the Congress high command, according to party sources. His recent comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "votes theft" allegations during 2024 Lok Sabha polls, seems to have proved costly for him.
He had said that voter lists for the polls were prepared under the Congress government in Karnataka, and had questioned his own party as to why they didn't stop the irregularities then.
Meanwhile, Rajanna's supporters staged a protest in Tumakuru opposing his sacking from the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet.
Congress MLAs Raghumurthy, Basavanthappa, Anil Chikkamadhu, among others met Rajanna along with Satish Jarkiholi and held discussions.
Speaking to reporters, Jarkiholi said, "This was just a meeting."
"This was a meeting to tell him that we are with him and as part of our friendship, we tried to instill confidence in him. He said he is satisfied with his performance as minister for two years and there is a misunderstanding about him in Delhi (leadership) and that he will go to Delhi and convince the high command."
Asked whether Rajanna will go to Delhi alone or whether they too would join him as a delegation, he said, "Delegation going is different from him (Rajanna) going. He has to go and explain to the high command."
A delegation will be going to seek filling up of two ST vacancies in the cabinet, he said, "We will ask that they should be filled up without any delay and the same portfolios should be given to the Valmiki (ST) community. This is the demand. We will go after the (current Assembly) session."
Rajanna is the second minister to be out of Siddaramaiah's Cabinet, after the Congress came to power in 2023.
Last year, Bellary MLA B Nagendra had to resign following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.
To a question on Rajanna earlier claiming a conspiracy against him, Jarkiholi said, "There is a conspiracy, he (Rajanna) has said that he will speak when time comes, it's left to him."
Responding to a question on taking Rajanna back to cabinet, he said, it is left to the high command, CM and the party president to decide.
