Balochistan: Nine killed seven abducted in latest military operation in Besima

Pakistani security forces besieged Kodi area of Besima region in Balochistan in the early hours of Tuesday morning and opened indiscriminate shelling on civilian population killing at least nine people and injuring several others.

Baloch online activists and local sources reported that victims were innocent civilians including children and elderly people. But Pakistani print and electronic media quoted the Frontier Corps/Para-Military official as saying that they have killed 15 alleged ‘militants’ of an armed Baloch organisation.

Eyewitness from the affected areas said that Pakistani ground forces were backed by gunship helicopters and armoured vehicles. The locals also alleged that Pakistan forces carried out a house-to-house search operation after the deadly attack and harassed women and children.

The victims killed during Tuesday’s military offensive were identified as Zia ur Rehman s/o Mohammad Bux, Fazal s/o Mohammad Bux, Mohammad Bux s/o Haji Noor Mohammad, Aslam s/o Imam Bux Baloch, Allah Rahim s/o Jan Mohammad, 14 year old Majid s/o Abdul Rahim, Abdul Hamid s/o Haji Noor Mohammad, Siraj s/o Abdul Ghani and Asmatullah s/o Abdul Ghani.

Pakistani forces also reportedly abducted at least four Baloch youth from Besima. They were arrested during the search operation.

Meanwhile in Gwadar district of Balochistan, three Baloch youths were abducted during an operation in Kulanch area of Pasni. The identity of the men abducted from Gawadar could not been confirmed until the filing of this report.

Baloch pro-freedom parties and leaders say that Pakistani security forces have accelerated their offensives across Balochistan since the beginning of New Year.