Serial abductions and killings: Three bullet-riddled bodies recovered

QUETTA: Three bullet-riddled bodies have been found in Kech and Mastung districts of Balochistan since Friday.

Two of the bodies identified as those of Yousaf Ahmed, resident of Tump, and Razaq Latif, a 9th grade student, were recovered from Murghap on Friday evening. “The victims had been tortured and then shot in the head,” said sources at Kech hospital.

According to the family, the victims were travelling in a passenger van from Turbat to Awaran when a group of armed men intercepted the van and whisked away four people on December 11.

“I have lodged a case in Turbat police station against the disappearance of my son,” Abdul Latif, father of the slain Razaq Latif, told reporters. He accused security forces of abducting his son and killing him in illegal detention.

The bodies were handed over to the relatives after medico-legal formalities.

Another body was found on Saturday morning from Koshak area in Mastung town, 50 kilometres from Quetta, according to Levies sources. The victim also received bullet wounds in the head and chest, said hospital officials.

The body was identified as that of 25-year-old Abdul Rehman Bangulzai, a resident of Quetta. “We had no dispute or enmity with anyone,” bemoaned family members of the victim.

Strikes and demonstrations

A complete shutter-down and wheel jam strike was observed in Turbat, Mand, Tump, Hoshap and Buleida on Saturday, paralysing life and trade. The strike was called by Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) – Azad in protest against killings of Baloch students and political opponents.

Baloch people are being picked up by security forces and other government functionaries in order to spread terror among Baloch, who are struggling for their national rights, said BSO – Azad spokesperson. He also announced a protest campaign against the killing of Baloch people during official custody. The demonstrations will be held throughout Balochistan from December 20 to 27. According to Baloch nationalist parties, more than 50 bodies of Baloch people have been recovered from across the province during the past five months.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2010.