For the last several months in particular, a shift has been observed in state policies towards Balochistan– specifically featuring the Baloch youth– especially students. On November 23, four rotting dead bodies of Baloch youth were shifted to Turbat civil hospital by the forces claiming that they were “Baloch militants” and killed in an encounter on Pasni road. Later the same day, one among the four was identified as Balach Mola Bakhsh– one who was forcibly disappeared from his home late in the night of October 29 from Absor, Turbat.
Then he was given into the custody of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in a case of carrying 5000 grams of explosives. He was in physical remand for 10 days after being produced before the Judicial Magistrate in Turbat. However, his body was brought later and he was labelled a ‘Baloch militant’. While the other three are also suspected to be those of missing persons, they are waiting to be identified.
The story of killing Baloch missing persons in staged fake encounters is not new in Balochistan. On November 19, three persons were reportedly killed in a roadside bomb attack in Balgatar area of Kech district. The same day it was discovered that the three were missing persons who were arrested-abducted from their home in Balgatar on August 22.
A picture then went viral showing that the hands of one of the three bodies had been tied with ropes which clarified that he was tortured. Their family members also rejected the claims of their death via the blast and accused the security forces of their illegal murders. They also say that four other members of their family are under forces’ custody after being abducted the same night.
What options will the state provide to these youth is what defines the future of Balochistan with the youth– whether state institutions provide them with platforms to join state institutions or the other way? Any anti-Baloch policy would have long-lasting impacts on the region. The state needs to revise its policies of enforced disappearances and Baloch genocide. Or else, the things take no time to heat up.
There are several other accounts where the involvement of the cover force, Counter-Terrorism Department, in ‘fake encounters’ reveals the change of the former ‘kill and dump policy’ into ‘fake encounters’ after arresting the Baloch illegally. Political parties and legal bar associations have condemned CTD’s proliferation of fake encounters and asked the supreme judiciary to take notice of the grave human rights violations in Balochistan, but there has been no progress and interest shown by the judiciary. It seems the forces in Balochistan have been given free hand over anything they want to do to whatever extent, while every other institution, including the courts, are hapless in front of them. Such acts are not only challenging the status quo of the legal system of the country but is also building a strong sense of alienation among the Baloch masses– mainly the students.
In their latest press release, the Turbat Bar Association, while condemning the killing of Balach Mola Bakhsh in strong terms, called for a one-day boycott of the legal procedings on November 24 in Turbat courts against the extrajudicial killing of four Baloch youth in Turbat and labelling them to have been killed in an encounter by forces. The association confirms FIR 2023/139 was registered against Balach and the magistrate had given him for a 10-day physical remand. How did Balach become a militant and ne killed in an encounter when he was in police custody? But it is still a question on the judiciary unless Balach is provided with actual justice. However, no one can compensate for the loss of a young soul.
Following the recent developments in human rights violations in Balochistan, one thing seems certain that the Baloch issue is fueling under the guise of such inhumane acts. Not only are these acts unconstitutional from the state’s perspective, but also contributing factors in driving Baloch youth to militancy. If not recovered soon, the things can go to major chaos which would be out of the range of getting control in times to come. Under the given circumstances, Baloch parents cannot choose to send their children to educational institutions, while they are not secure at homes too.
What options will the state provide to these youth is what defines the future of Balochistan with the youth– whether state institutions provide them with platforms to join state institutions or the other way? Any anti-Baloch policy would have long-lasting impacts on the region. The state needs to revise its policies of enforced disappearances and Baloch genocide. Or else, the things take no time to heat up.
