Chechens’ killings: Tribunal inspects Kharotabad site

Investigation team inspects the crime scene a day ahead of the formal probe.

QUETTA:

Ahead of officially starting a formal investigation, the judicial tribunal on Monday visited the Kharotabad area where five Chechens were gunned down by Frontier Corps (FC) and police personnel on May 17.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Hashim Kakar of the Balochistan High Court, also visited the Killi Khezi area where the vehicle of the Chechen nationals was first intercepted by police.

Kakar went to the FC check post in the Kharotabad area, where he interrogated personnel of the FC and the police deputed there.

Inspector General Police Rao Mohammad Amin, Capital City Police Officer Ghalib Bandisha, Station House Officer of the Airport Police Station Fazalur-Rehman and other officials were also present at the site.

Kakar also went to Khilli Khezi where Chechens’ vehicle was first intercepted and searched by the police. The vehicle, in which the Chechens were traveling to Quetta from Khuchlak, was brought to the crime scene by police personnel during the tribunal’s visit.

The tribunal thoroughly inspected the vehicle and the crime scene. Kakar also met five shopkeepers near the Killi Khezi area and inquired about the incident.

While talking to police personnel, the justice said, “You people should not lie because we have the footage of the incident.”

The judicial tribunal will start its formal investigation today (Tuesday) and will record the statements of eyewitnesses. As many as 18 witnesses, including two journalists, have come forward to testify before the tribunal.

Journalists, as well as local residents, also provided footage, photographs and copies of published articles of the incident.

The police and FC personnel, who fired at the five foreigners – including a seven-month pregnant woman, alleged that the foreigners were wearing suicide jackets and possessed explosive materials.

However, neither a suicide jacket nor any explosive material was recovered from them. The Chechens were also unarmed when they were shot.

Earlier, the tribunal directed the Inspector General Police and Inspector General FC to suspend those police and FC personnel who took part in the operation.

The bodies of the Chechens are kept in the morgue of Bolan Medical Complex and so far no one has come forward to claim them.

“So far no one contacted the Balochistan government for the bodies,” said Home Secretary Zafar Baloch.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2011.