Border violation: Iran’s 3 security men booked for manslaughter

The trio killed a Pakistani man in a cross-border attack.

QUETTA:

In a move likely to sour ties between Iran and Pakistan, a case was registered against three Iranian security personnel for killing a Pakistani citizen in a cross-border attack.

Iran once again warned Pakistan it would seal the border if administration officials continued to follow a ‘discriminatory policy’, sources said.

Three Iranian security personnel intruded three kilometres inside Pakistani territory in the Mazansar area of Washuk district on Sunday and reportedly killed a man identified as Saeed Ahmed Reki. Ahmed’s younger brother was injured in the incident.

Local officials of the Washuk district rushed to the spot and booked all three Iranian personnel. According to sources, the deceased and his brother were allegedly involved in narcotics trade and were identified by the Iranian forces.

However, the local administration registered a criminal case against the security personnel implicating them in  border trespassing and manslaughter.

“We have registered a murder case against the three Iranians and will produce them in court,” said Abdul Malik, officer in charge of the Mazan Sar Mashkail area, where the three were arrested, according to AFP.Pakistani officials said the Iranian guards were trying to take both Pakistani nationals back into Iran.

According to AFP, Malik said the three Iranians were in the custody of Pakistan paramilitary Frontier Corps and a request has been sent to hand them over to police. Iranian officials took exception to the action against the detained Iranian security personnel who were involved in the alleged anti-drug operation in Mashkhel.

Iran recently tightened the security along the border, including the coastal area, with Pakistan. It virtually closed the Mashkhel borders. However, the Zero Point remains open till now, while Iran has warned of closing the entire 900-kilometer long border with Pakistan.

17 Pakistani fishermen arrested

Iranian naval guards arrested at least 17 Pakistani fishermen and impounded three trawlers near Jewani on Monday soon after the three security personnel were caught over the border violation.

ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM AFP

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2012.