Balochistan: Iranian Border Forces shot dead Baloch Fuel Carrier

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN):  A Baloch fuel carrier was shot and killed on Monday by Iranian maritime border forces in the Kalani River area of Dashtiari County in Iranian Occupied Balochistan, near the south-eastern border town of Gwatar, according to the Baloch Activists Campaign.

The incident occurred after the fuel carrier’s vehicle collided with a border patrol vehicle. Following the crash, border guards opened direct fire on the driver, fatally shooting him in the heart. He died at the scene.

The identity of the deceased remains unknown at the time of reporting.

Sources told the campaign that the Gwatar border guards were targeting a convoy of fuel-carrying vehicles travelling through the Kalani River, a known route leading to nearby shrimp farms. The victim was attempting to flee the area when security forces blocked his path, leading to the collision. He was then shot at close range.

The killing highlights ongoing tensions in the region, where cross-border fuel trade is common due to widespread poverty and unemployment.

Iranian authorities have frequently been accused of using excessive force against so-called “fuel carriers” individuals who transport fuel to earn a livelihood, often in hazardous and unregulated conditions.

According to the Baloch Activists Campaign’s 2024 annual report, at least 375 fuel carriers were killed or injured last year as a result of military gunfire or road accidents involving security forces.

The report recorded 240 fatalities and 135 injuries—marking a 54.67% increase compared to 2023.

Human rights organisations have repeatedly called on Iranian authorities to address systemic discrimination against the Baloch people and to ensure accountability for violence committed by security forces.