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The police reportedly arrested Mahrang Baloch and 17 other protesters on Saturday during a sit-in outside Balochistan University, as per media reports.
Officials stated that the protest, which began on Friday, turned violent, resulting in three deaths, as per the local news report.
According to an Independent Urdu News report, authorities have confirmed the arrests of 10 men and 7 women. The charges against them are still being determined as investigations continue.
The Baloch Solidarity Committee, led by Mahrang Baloch, called the arrests a “brutal crackdown” by security forces. The protesters were demanding the release of detained activists they claim were taken by security agencies.
The provincial government and protesters blame each other for the deadly clashes. The incident follows the recent hijacking of Jafar Express, where 60 people, including separatists, were killed.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) condemned the arrests, urging the immediate release of protesters and an end to excessive force against peaceful demonstrators.
Following the deadly attack on Jaffar Express, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has accused India of being the main sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan, linking the recent Jaffar Express attack to its unfriendly policies.
Addressing a press briefing alongside Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Lt Gen Chaudhry said, “The latest attack in Balochistan and other terrorist incidents that took place in the past…we understand that the main sponsor of these [attacks] is your eastern neighbor.”
Jaffar Express Attack
On March 11, terrorists from the banned outfit attacked Jaffar Express in Bolan district, blowing up railway tracks and taking 440 passengers hostage.
The military rescued all hostages after a 36-hour-long operation, killing 33 militants. However, 26 passengers and four security personnel were martyred before the operation concluded.
Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that these terrorists had divided hostages into groups, using women and children as human shields. Some passengers escaped but were fired upon by militants. Intelligence confirmed that the attackers were in contact with handlers in Afghanistan, and some were suicide bombers.
“The latest attack and past incidents are part of India’s continued policy to fuel terrorism in Pakistan.”
