Kalat emerges top place for dumping corpses

Over 75 bodies found in the district in 2011, compared to 30 in 2010.

ISLAMABAD:

Balochistan has seen an alarming increase in incidents of abductions, killings and bodies being dumped, as over 203 bullet-riddled corpses were found from various parts of the volatile province in 2011, compared to 103 a year before.

The sudden, over 100% increase in violence is due to the alleged presence of Afghan militants in Balochistan and factors in the murder of three high-profile Baloch leaders: Lala Munir Baloch, Sher Muhammad Baloch and Ghulam Muhammad Baloch. An official report made available to The Express Tribune stated that over 76 bullet-riddled and decomposed corpses have been recovered so far in 2012.

With a total of at least 382 bodies recovered since 2010, Balochis remain the prime target of ruthless criminals. The bodies of 39 Pashtuns were also recovered in the last two years, the report added. It also continued to state that as many as 43 bodies could not be identified. The federal and provincial levies forces spent around Rs3.2 billion on purchasing arms and ammunition to combat the violence and expenditures on employee-related matters. Currently, as many as 14,050 personnel of the levies forces are actively performing their duties in the province.

Kalat District saw a shocking rise in such cases, as over 75 corpses were recovered from various parts of the district in 2011, compared to 30 in 2010. In the first five months of 2012, the incidents of abductions, killings and dumping in Kalat are a grim reminder of the dire situation, with 25 murdered people recovered.

In Makran district, over 52 victims’ bodies were found in 2011, compared with 8 in 2010. Interestingly, the law and order situation improved in Quetta, as 44 bodies were recovered in various localities of the provincial capital in 2011, compared to 57 bodies recovered in 2010.

Rise in kidnappings

There was no respite in innocent citizens being kidnapped either, with statistics showing a lofty rise in kidnappings for ransom and the abductees’ deaths. Around 320 people were reported to have been kidnapped in 2011.

The data reveals that 76 perpetrators were on trial for kidnapping charges. 45 perpetrators were convicted for the crime, while 187 murderers were currently on trial, with a further 578 convicted. The report also added that over 19, 232 and 10, 232 provincial police and Balochistan Constabulary (BC) personnel respectively have been deployed to maintain law and order. Rs7.5 billion was also allocated to the BC and provincial police in fiscal 2011-12’s provincial budget.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2012.

Correction: Earlier, an incorrect map of Kalat District was attached to the story. The error has been rectified.