The Balochistan government on Thursday released a detailed report on the deadly attack on the Mangi Dam police checkpost in Ziarat district, saying 27 police personnel were killed after militants employed a prolonged strategy aimed at exhausting the defenders' ammunition before launching a final assault.

According to the official report, intelligence agencies had warned authorities of a possible attack days in advance, prompting the deployment of additional personnel and weapons at the checkpost.

The government said around 35 police personnel, led by a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), were deployed at the post on July 6, while the nearest Frontier Corps (FC) position was approximately 20 kilometres away.

The report said militants maintained intermittent firing throughout the day instead of immediately storming the post, forcing the defenders to consume most of their available ammunition. Reinforcements dispatched by police and the FC later came under heavy fire, while an armed helicopter, VTOL drones and mortar support were also employed during the operation.

Officials said that after nightfall the attackers launched a direct assault on the checkpost. Police personnel offered stiff resistance despite dwindling ammunition before some attempted to withdraw under the cover of darkness.

The provincial government said one group led by the DSP reached safety, while another group of 18 personnel was intercepted and taken hostage by the attackers. It added that security forces subsequently launched a large-scale combing operation covering more than 300 square kilometres of mountainous terrain.

The report maintained that the personnel stationed at the checkpost fought until the last moment and rejected what it described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident.

Compensation package

Separately, the Balochistan government announced a compensation package for the families of the slain police personnel.

According to Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Political Affairs Shahid Rind, each bereaved family will receive Rs10 million in cash compensation along with a residential plot valued at Rs1.1 million, taking the total compensation package to Rs11.1 million per family.

Mr Rind said release orders had been issued on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, while administrative and financial formalities were completed on a priority basis to ensure prompt delivery of the compensation at the families' doorsteps.

He added that the provincial government would also bear the educational expenses of the children of the fallen personnel and continue supporting their families.

Protest continues

Meanwhile, a sit-in continued at Coal Phatak in Quetta, where relatives of the slain policemen remained camped with the bodies of the victims.

The protesters described the incident as the killing of 30 police personnel and demanded justice and accountability. The provincial government's official report, however, places the death toll at 27 police personnel.

Khuzdar police station attack repulsed

Separately, security officials said an attack on a police station in Zehri, Khuzdar district, was successfully repelled.

Officials said Operation Shaaban was continuing successfully and that 39 militants had so far been killed during the operation.

Reaffirming the government's position, officials said the writ of the state would be maintained at all costs, adding that "terrorists cannot escape their fate."