At least 30 donkeys belonging to Sukhtbars were killed by gunfire from border guard forces in the Mehrgan area of Saravan.
According to Kolbarnews, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, border guard forces in the Mehrgan district of Saravan County raided the “Dahneh-Lak Esfandak” area and opened direct fire, killing at least 30 donkeys belonging to the Sukhtbars of the region.
These donkeys were the main means of livelihood for a number of local Sukhtbars, and their destruction has caused significant economic damage to families whose livelihoods depend on this method.
According to information from local sources, military forces, prior to opening fire, forced the Sukhtbars present at the site to leave the area through pressure and threats.
After the individuals fled, the agents targeted the donkeys with gunfire without issuing any prior warning or providing any explanation regarding a security necessity.
Local sources have assessed this action as part of an ongoing pattern of violent and coercive collision with Sukhtbars and their means of livelihood, emphasizing that such behavior has previously been repeated in various parts of Baluchistan; a trend which, according to them, has brought heavy economic, social, and livelihood consequences for local residents.
This comes while, according to Article 7 of Iran’s Animal Protection Law, any unnecessary act and any decision that leads to the death of animals is considered a crime against their lives, a matter that raises serious questions about the legal basis and legal responsibility for this action by border guard forces.
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.
