Several military and border patrol boats launched an assault on Sukhtbars in the Khor Kantani region along Balochistan’s maritime border, firing at the Sukhtbars, setting a boat on fire, and dumping fuel barrels from other boats into the sea.
According to Kolbarnews, on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, military forces targeted Sukhtbars in the Khor Kantani area, setting one of the boats ablaze and sinking the fuel barrels from several other boats. The military chased down several Sukhtbari boats, stopping one, setting it on fire, and then coming ashore to open fire on the Sukhtbars. They also seized multiple boats, dumping fuel barrels into the water. Witnesses reported that the military personnel, who had covered their faces, faced resistance from locals and fired several warning shots to instill fear.
Sukhtbari is considered an unconventional and hazardous job that many Baluch people in Baluchistan are forced into due to the lack of suitable and stable employment. Accidents, vehicle rollovers, and direct shootings by military and security forces are some of the dangers that Sukhtbars face. According to reports from Baluch activists, in the first six months of 2024, at least 133 Baluch Sukhtbars have died from shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires, with another 80 injured in these incidents, including nine children.
