Yaser Salarzehi, 18, and Ahmad Saghezehi, 26, two Baloch Sukhtbars, lost their lives in Bandar Abbas following a pursuit by military forces, a vehicle collision, and the subsequent fire.
According to Kolbarnews, citing sources in Balochistan, in the early hours of Thursday, August 20, 2026, at around 5 a.m., military forces in Bandar Abbas pursued a Sukhtbari vehicle. The pursuit ultimately resulted in the vehicle colliding with another vehicle and an accident.
The identities of the two Baloch Sukhtbars have been confirmed as Yaser Salarzehi, 18, son of Zahir and from Zabol, and Ahmad Saghezehi, 26, son of Shamseddin.
According to reports received, following the collision, the vehicle carrying the two Sukhtbars caught fire, and they died in the flames due to the severity of their injuries and their inability to escape the vehicle.
The continued pursuit of Sukhtbars by military forces on roads and transportation routes has repeatedly resulted in accidents, fires, and the deaths of Sukhtbars.
Sukhtbari is considered one of the unconventional and dangerous jobs that many Baloch people in Balochistan have been forced to turn to due to the lack of suitable and stable employment. Accidents, vehicle overturns, and direct gunfire from military and security forces are among the dangers that threaten the lives of these Sukhtbars.According to the 2025 annual report of the Baluchistan Human Rights Documentation Network, at least 262 Sukhtbars were killed or injured. Of these, 173 Sukhtbars lost their lives due to gunfire by military forces, road accidents during pursuits by security forces, or explosions caused by mines planted by the IRGC, while 89 others were injured. Four child Sukhtbars were among those killed.
