Up to 18 people were killed on Saturday when security forces swept into the Kharcha area of Bekar, which is on the border of Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Barkhan, Senator Sana Baloch of the Balochistan National Party said. Baloch said that security forces were backed by nine helicopters. Frontier Corps troops moved into Baekar after rebel tribesmen ambushed a convoy with rockets, a Frontier Corp spokesman told Daily Times. A security official in the region told AP. âYes, security forces suffered casualties, but I donât have numbers,â he said.The FC spokesman said security forces had captured a camp at Chhabar, and now occupied six of 13 âmilitant campsâ in the Kohlu area. MPA Balach Marri said that security forces had stepped up their campaign in Kohlu over the last three days and claimed that around 80 people had been killed in âaerial bombingâ and because of the harsh weather, exacerbated by a shortage of electricity and water. However, Mohabat Khan Marri, a former provincial minister and opponent of Balach Marri, said from Kohlu that the situation was normal in the Maewand area of Kohlu.
Kohlu resident Anwar told Daily Times that security forces were âattackingâ the villages of Nisao, Tritani, Chhabar, and Kahan. Despite the widespread reports of civilian casualties, hospitals in the area have not reported receiving injured people or dead bodies. Locals said this was because security forces had besieged the area from all sides and people feared being arrested if they took the injured to hospital. They said that it was âcommon practiceâ for security forces to arrest the injured, regardless of who they were.