Military forces opened fire on an unladen Sukhtbari vehicle without warning or justification, subsequently seizing and transferring it to an impound lot.
According to Kolbarnews, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, military forces in Zahedan targeted a Sukhtbari vehicle that was not carrying any fuel. The only item in the vehicle was an empty fuel container. Upon realizing the vehicle belonged to a Sukhtbar, the forces shot at its tires, forcing it to stop, before seizing it and transferring it to an impound lot.
Such violent and arbitrary actions, which endanger the lives of Sukhtbars, highlight the repressive policies impacting the livelihoods of the Baloch people.
Sukhtbari considered one of the unconventional and dangerous occupations that many Baloch people in Balochistan are forced to engage in due to the lack of suitable and stable employment opportunities. Accidents, vehicle overturns, and direct shootings by military and security forces are some of the dangers that threaten the lives of Sukhtbars. According to reports by Baloch activists, in 2024, at least 240 Baloch Sukhtbars lost their lives due to shootings by military forces, traffic accidents, and vehicle fires, while 135 others were injured in these incidents, 19 of whom were children.
