In a military chase in Minab, five citizens, including two Baloch Sukhtbars, lost their lives.
According to Kolbarnews, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at least five citizens, including two Sukhtbars, died in a fire following a military chase of a Sukhtbari vehicle on the Minab – BandarAbbas road.
The identities of the deceased citizens are not known at the time of reporting.
Local sources report that military forces used a personal Toyota Hilux vehicle to chase the fuel carrier, resulting in a collision with a private Samand car, leading to both vehicles catching fire. The Samand car was carrying a family.
The source added: “As a result of this fire, two Sukhtbars and three passengers of the Samand vehicle perished in the flames, and the officers fled the scene.”
The source also mentioned: “In protest against the military chase of the Sukhtbars, which led to the collision and fire, citizens blocked the Minab-BandarAbbas road.”
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.
