An 18-year-old Baloch Sukhtbar lost his life after a vehicle rollover during a military pursuit near Ravar district in Kerman.
According to Kolbarnews, in the early hours of Monday, May 26, 2025, a military chase involving a Sukhtbari vehicle in Rain County led to a crash that resulted in the death of the young Sukhtbar driver.
The deceased Sukhtbar has been identified as Abdolvahid Rigi, also known as Abdolvahid Barahouei, approximately 18 years old, son of Mohammad, and a resident of Najafabad in Khash County.
According to informed sources, Abdolvahid’s vehicle had broken down near the city of Rain and was parked by the roadside. Military forces arrived intending to impound the vehicle and had dispatched a tow truck to move it to an impound lot. However, Abdolvahid managed to restart the vehicle and flee the scene. A pursuit ensued, during which the vehicle overturned, killing him instantly.
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 reports from Baloch activists, in the year 2024, at least 375 Baloch Sukhtbars have been injured or lost their lives due to shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires. Of this number, 240 Sukhtbars were killed and 135 were injured, representing a 55% increase in the number of killed and injured Sukhtbars compared to the year 2023.
