In the coal-rich mountains of Dukki, a once-bustling mining town, fear, uncertainty and anger have engulfed the entire community.

Only a few weeks ago, trucks carrying coal were seen everywhere in the town, with miners working tirelessly in shifts. Both labourers and owners were eager to make a living from the region’s mineral wealth. However, the cold-blooded murder of the 21 miners on the night of October 11, has caused a huge slowdown in mining activity.

Twenty-one miners were killed and another seven sustained injuries when unidentified gunmen, armed with grenades and rocket launchers attacked a coal mine. Most of the miners hailed from various parts of Balochistan and Afghanistan. The attack left the entire community in shock and trepidation.

Local media reported that the coal miners were killed by armed groups who also extorted money from mine owners. When the owners fail to pay the money, the militants kill or abduct miners. Similar cases of extortion, murder and abduction of coal miners have been reported in Mach, Bolan, Harnai and Quetta.

Hafiz Ullah, a witness to the incident, told The News on Sunday that 30 to 40 armed assailants opened fire and hurled hand grenades at them in the wee hours of Friday. According to him, the attackers were armed with advanced weapons. He said they were also using a drone to survey the area.

Dukki’s economy is all about mining. The mineral-rich hills of the area have been a source of livelihood for the residents for generations. But after the tragic incident, the future of mining seems uncertain.

Miners, once eager to join the industry, are now turning away. An unprecedented shortage of mine workers in the area has been reported since the attack. Many miners have chosen not to return. Some have abandoned the industry and switched to other vocations where they earn less than what they used to make from mining work.

RehmatUllah, a coal agent and resident of Dukki, said that there was a slump in business following the attack. “Over 80 per cent of the coal mines have shut down. Before the attack, 210 trucks carrying coal used to leave from the various mining sites in this town. Now, the output has dropped to around 20 trucks,” he told TNS.

It is worth mentioning that security of the coal sites in Dukki is the responsibility of the Frontier Corps. Mine owners pay Rs 230 per tonne for the service. The federal government receives Rs 920 per tonne in the form of royalty and the provincial government charges sales tax at Rs 130 per tonne, Rs 50 as withholding tax and Rs 20 per tonne as rescue charges.

The sharp decline in mining activity and subsequent unemployment have added to the woes of people in an already impoverished area. Many families in Dukki have been either directly engaged in mining or indirectly participated as mechanics and drivers etc.

The mine closure has been a terrible blow to the local economy, bringing it to a standstill.

“In Dukki, many people’s livelihood depends on coal. Our lives, our bread and butter, is inextricably linked with coal extraction and trade. Coal fuels the economy,” said AnyatKakar, a local shopkeeper. “Sales have plummeted since the attack. I’m not sure how we will make do if the situation persists,” he said.

The Dukki carnage has also highlighted the security concerns that have plagued the area since 2022. 12 attacks have been reported on the Dukki mines in 2024 alone. Earlier, two attacks were reported on Dukki mines in 2023 and two in the previous year.

All Pakistan Labour Federation president Lala Sultan said that they had been long pleading for protection and better regulation of the mining industry. He said little had been done to ensure the security of the miners.

“The government pays attention to Dukki and other coal mining districts when has to collect taxes. When workers are in mortal danger, it does not show up.”

The writer is a freelance journalist. He tweets @Jaffar_Journo