Four killed, five kidnapped in Balochistan

Killings were reported over three days of Eid.

QUETTA:

At least four people were killed, including an Afghan policeman, in different parts of Balochistan during the last three days. On the other hand, at least five people were also kidnapped on Wednesday.

In the first incident, an Afghan policeman was killed in the Pak-Afghan border town of Chaman. Police officials said the Afghan policeman had come to Chaman to meet his relatives for Eid when gunmen shot him dead. Name of the victim could not be ascertained.

Separately, militants fired a salvo of rockets at a check post of the Frontier Corps in the Kolpur area, some 60 km southeast of Quetta on the first day of Eid. No casualties were reported in the attack.

Meanwhile, a man was killed and another wounded when a landmine exploded in Sui, Dera Bugti. Sources said two people in the Ashnad area were walking when one of them stepped on the landmine which exploded killing one of them on the spot and seriously wounding the other.

In another incident, armed men opened indiscriminate fire on Muhammad Javed near the Mir Gahi Khan Chowk on Sariab Road and fled from the scene. Javed died before reaching the hospital.

Police also recovered a dead body from Mian Ghundi on the outskirts of Quetta. Police also found a piece of paper on the body which identified him as Shaukat Ali, a resident of Rawalpindi.

In a firing incident, assailants sprayed bullets on Niamatullah in Khuzdar town when he was going home after offering Eid prayers. Niamatullah died in the hospital.

Abductions

At least five people were kidnapped in different areas of Balochistan including Bolan and Pishin districts on Wednesday.

According to sources, at least three people were kidnapped in the Kachi area while heading for a picnic near the Bolan River. The kidnapped men were identified as Muhammad Khan, Lal Moham and Abdul Qadir — who belonged to the Rasinai tribe. The Kachi area is infamous for Baloch militants attacking security forces and national installations. However, the motive behind the abduction could not be ascertained till late in the night since law enforcement agencies had failed to find any leads regarding the incident.

Meanwhile, two well-known traders were kidnapped in Pishin. Sources said the abducted traders – Abdul Zarif and Muhammad Zahir – were on their way from Quetta to Pishin when gunmen intercepted their vehicle and kidnapped them.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2012.