The victims were identified as Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Gul Hakim and Abdul Wakeel, who were working for two private coal companies — the National Coal Company and Dinar Coalmines, reports Dawn News.

The gunmen reportedly entered the area at night and started firing indiscriminately when three coal miners were killed on spot.

“Three young coal miners were killed on the spot as they suffered multiple bullet injuries,” Gul Muhammad, a senior police officer of Hanna police station, told Dawn.

Security forces personnel reached the spot and took out the bodies to hospital after receiving information on the incident.

“We received three bullet-riddled bodies in the hospital,” Dr Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the Civil Hospital, told Dawn News.

The attackers escaped from the spot after attacking the coal miners.