BLA attack: 4 bullet-riddled bodies found in Mastung

Two victims were said to be security forces’ personnel.

QUETTA:

Bodies of four people, including two security officials, were found near the Dasht area of Mastung on Tuesday.

Balochistan Levies official Rafiq Jatak said the bodies were dumped near the main intersection of Dasht known as Degari Cross – a well-known coalmine field.

“The bodies bore multiple bullet wounds and were handcuffed,” Jatak added.

Levies personnel found slips attached to each body bearing the victims’ names, two of whom were said to be officials of security forces. Banned militant outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the killings.

The bodies were taken to the Sandeman Hospital in Quetta for autopsy. They were identified as Major Riaz, Hawaldar Mohammad Yasin, Mohammad Saleem and Mohammad Nadeem.

“Major Riaz and Hawaldar Mohammad Yasin were security officials and residents of Multan,” sources said. However, they did not confirm the affiliation of the other two, who are said to be residents of Quetta.

Doctors at the hospital said that it seemed the victims were killed early in the morning and their bodies dumped soon after.

Jatak said that the bodies of Saleem and Nadeem were handed over to their heirs. “Both victims had left for Marwar area from Quetta for unknown reasons,” he told reporters, quoting the victims’ family members.

A case has been registered in the Mastung Levies Station against unidentified persons and investigations have been launched.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2011.