‘Three killed’, several injured in face-off between Quetta police, BYC protesters

QUETTA: Police used tear gas and water cannon and fired blank shots to disperse Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) protesters who had blocked Sariab Road to stage a sit-in near the University of Balochistan on Friday to protest against the arrests of some activists.

However, the spokesman for the Balochistan government said in a statement that police took action according to the law to reopen the road, which had been blocked by the BYC protesters. He said protesters staged a sit-in, pelted police with stones and beat them up, injuring 10 police personnel, including a female police constable.

The BYC workers and supporters took out a protest rally in the Sariab Road area, carrying banners and placards inscribed with their demands. They marched on Sariab Road, chanting slogans to protest against the arrest of Bebarg Baloch and others.

Later, the protesters reached Munir Mengal Road and staged a sit-in camp. However, a heavy contingent of police, which had been deployed in the area, used batons and water cannon to remove the sit-in camp and disperse the protesters. Police also fired blank shots.

According to Bolan Medical College Hospital officials, two bodies were brought to the hospital from the Sariab Road area, which were taken away by the heirs of the deceased. Officials of the Civil Hospital Quetta said that one body and nine injured police personnel, including a female constable, were brought to the hospital.

The BYC workers and supporters took away three bodies with them and staged a protest sit-in on Munir Mengal Road, leading to suspension of the traffic flow in the Sariab Road area.

In a statement issued late on Friday night, the BYC claimed that three people were killed and many others injured in the police firing. It has given province-wise shutter-down and wheel jam strike calls for Saturday.

The spokesman for the Balochistan Government, Shahid Rind, said in a statement that the BYC members blocked the National Highway, which caused difficulties to the people travelling to Quetta and other areas. He said police took action to reopen the highway and restore traffic. However, the protesters threw stones and attacked police personnel, resulting in injuries to nine police personnel.

He said the BYC was protesting with bodies and the deceased were yet to be identified. “The reason for three deaths cannot be determined until the medico-legal proceedings are completed in the hospital,” he said, adding that the protesters were creating unrest and a law and order situation. However, he warned, nobody would be allowed to take the law into their hands.

“The government cannot sit as a silent spectator if someone creates a law and order situation and will fulfil its responsibilities for the protection of the life and property of the people,” Rind said.

BYC chief organizer Dr Mahrang Baloch alleged that three people were killed and 13 others injured in the police firing and baton charge on the protesters, who staged a sit-in against the arrest of BYC leader Bebarg Baloch, his brother, a senior doctor of the Bolan Medical College, his son and son-in-law.