Balochistan: 19 Baloch killed in Pakistani military attacks, several abducted in past three days

QUETTA: At least 19 people have been killed and several others abducted by Pakistan forces from different areas of Balochistan in past three days.

Monday, 21 March 2016, Pakistan paramilitary FC claimed to have killed 12 ‘militants’ in an offensive in district Kohlu Balochistan.

The military offensives were carried out in Nesau area of Kohlu where local sources confirmed that gunship helicopters were used to attack civilian populations.

“The Pakistani ground forces have started to reach in the area yesterday evening but they began their offensives on early Monday.

“Most of the damage was caused by air strikes – houses and crops were burnt while livestock also came under attack,” a local source told BW News.

The local sources also rejected FC’s claims that it killed 12 militants. They said the victims were unarmed civilians who died because of intense aerial bombardment.

The Pakistani ground forces have reportedly abducted several people from Nesau and surrounding regions while women and children were harassed during the military rampage.

The identity of the victims could not be ascertained until the filing of this report.

One day prior to Kohlu attack Pakistan forces have killed three people including a 9-year-old girl during an attack on a house in Alandor area of Buleda in district Kech Balochistan.

The Pakistani forces claimed that the two men belonged to a pro-freedom armed group but Baloch National Movement (BNM) rejected FC’s claims.

The BNM issued a statement to media saying that all the three victims were civilians.

The victims of Zerdaan attack have been named as 9-year-old Fatima daughter of Khalid, Amir Bakhsh son of Dad Rehman and Abdul Rasheed son of Gwahram.

Several houses were also set on fire during the military offensives in Zerdaan and Meniaz areas of Kech Balochistan.

In another statement the BNM said that forces abducted Imran Baloch, a cousin of Karima Baloch the current chairperson of Baloch Student Organisation (BSO-Azad).

Separately, on Saturday Pakistani forces admitted to have arrest a man in Garmukan area of Panjgur Balochistan.

Meanwhile another five men were arrested in Tump are of Turbat Balochistan.

A spokesman of FC confirmed the abductions but failed to give further details as to where the abducted men being held.

The whereabouts of all the abducted men remain unknown despite the confession of Pakistani forces that they have taken the victims into their custody.

On Friday 18 March Pakistani forces conducted operations in Mohan Patt area of RD238, Bitti, Uch Toba and other areas of Sui Dera Bugti Balochistan.

The Baloch Republican Party spokesperson Sher Mohammad Bugti in a statement claimed that Pakistani forces killed five people in Kattan and Naseerabad area of Chattar. However, the names of the diseased could not be ascertained immediately.

Mr Bugti in his statement also said that Pakistani forces abducted nine people from RD238 Sui Dera Bugti. The abducted people were named as Sher Jan son of Qadro, Mewa son of Qadro, Yaro Bugti, Deen Mohammad Bugti, Bhagya Bugti, Bahram Bugti, Jano Bugti, Bachal Bugti and Ali Murad Bugti.