15 bullet-riddled bodies recovered in Balochistan

Bullet-riddled bodies of at least 15 people were found by the security forces in the Kech district of Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province.

The bodies were found by the personnel of Balochistan Levies, a paramilitary force which operates as a law enforcement agency and maintains law and order, in Balochistan.

“The bodies have been found in Gorak area of Tehsil Buleda in Kech district. They have been moved to the district headquarters hospital in Turbat for post-mortem and identification,” the official said, adding that all the victims have been shot from close range. There are concerns whether the victims were illegal immigrants or labourers. Illegal immigrants try to cross over into Iran from where they are taken to Europe illegally or poor labourers who had come to work in Baluchistan, he added. Every year a large number of people from Punjab province try to move into Europe, illegally by crossing into Iran.

This is not the first time that labourers from Punjab have been attacked in Balochistan and Kech district. These are considered to be a hotbed for separatists belonging to banned outfits who target security forces and poor labourers from other provinces.

In September, three bullet-riddled bodies were found in the district while another two were discovered last month.