Punjab Police Raids Book Stall in Dajal, Arrests Seven Activists Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Educational Activities
QUETTA: In a disturbing escalation of the ongoing crackdown on educational activities in Balochistan, Punjab Police raided a book stall organised by the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) in Dajal on January 29.
The police destroyed the stall, forcibly shut it down, and arrested seven activists in the process. The detained individuals were taken to the local police station.
This incident is the latest in a series of police actions targeting book fairs and intellectual activities across the region. The BSAC has condemned the raid, describing it as part of a broader pattern of harassment against students and political activists in Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa Sharif, Rajanpur, and surrounding areas.
According to the BSAC, such actions have become a troubling regular occurrence, with police repeatedly attempting to stifle educational efforts.
The BSAC emphasised that these book fairs, which have been ongoing for over a month across Balochistan, are part of a wider initiative to address Balochistan’s educational crisis and promote intellectual engagement. However, the organisation stated that government authorities are actively trying to prevent these positive activities. Instead of supporting students, the committee argues, the state is harassing them simply for organising book stalls and educational events.
The committee also pointed to previous incidents in which four BSAC members were unlawfully arrested in Gwadar, where an FIR was filed against them under questionable circumstances. In light of these recent developments, the BSAC has issued a clear warning to authorities: if the state continues its anti-education actions, resistance from students and activists will only grow stronger.
This latest raid in Dajal follows a series of similar incidents in other parts of Balochistan, including earlier raids in Gwadar, Kharan, and Naseerabad, which saw students being harassed, book stalls destroyed, and activists facing unlawful detention. The committee claimed that these actions were orchestrated by state institutions, including the police and military, in an attempt to undermine educational efforts in Balochistan.
In a statement, the BSAC outlined how book fairs are being held in various parts of Koh Suleiman, including Dera Ghazi Khan, Taunsa Sharif, Barkhan, and Rajanpur. However, the committee reports that government agencies have been actively intervening to stop these events.
In some areas, such as Barkhan and Taunsa Sharif, police have raided book stalls, harassed students, and even confiscated books. In Yaro Khosah, Dera Ghazi Khan, students were reportedly arrested along with the books, demonstrating the ongoing hostility toward intellectual activities in the region.
The committee highlighted that recent restrictions on book fairs were a clear example of unjust treatment by both the Punjab Police and the provincial government. The raid on a book fair in the Fazla Kach area of Koh Suleiman, carried out by the Border Military Police, further exemplified the misuse of local forces against the Baloch population, according to the BSAC.
In response to the recent raid in Dajal, the BSAC has called on human rights organisations, journalists, and other activists to speak out against the police’s aggressive actions and the ongoing attacks on educational initiatives.
The organisation has also urged the Punjab government and the Dera Ghazi Khan administration to halt their harassment of Baloch students and political activists, warning that failure to do so will lead to a strong protest movement across the region.
The BSAC’s central spokesperson reaffirmed that these books, which are purchased from major bookstores across the country, are meant to bring knowledge and educational resources to the people of Koh Suleiman and Balochistan as a whole. The committee has vowed to continue its fight for educational rights in the face of increasing state repression.
