Killing Chechens destroyed evidence

QUETTA: The Balochistan government Saturday released the investigation report of the Kharotabad inquiry tribunal, which held police and Frontier Corps personnel responsible for the murder of five foreigners and recommended action against them. The tribunal, headed by Justice Muhammad Hashim Kakar of the Balochistan High Court, said in its report that unprovoked firing on these foreigners in fact destroyed the evidence that could have helped in fighting terrorism. It said that the material found in their luggage indicated that they were trained terrorists and belonged to jihadi groups. The forces could have arrested them by demonstrating responsibility and they could have found some clues leading them to find the names of their organisations, the report added. The report however said that these foreigners were unarmed the day the incident took place at Kharotabad. The report held former Capital City Police Officer Daud Junejo, FC Lt Col Faisal Shahzad, SHO Airport Fazalur Rahman and ASI Raza Khan responsible for the incident and said that the forces used unnecessary force causing the death of the five foreigners. It also recommended that government of Balochistan should take action against those responsible and improve the performance of personnel of police and forces through better training. Five Chechens including three women, one of whom was a seven-month pregnant, were killed by police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel on May 17, considering them as suicide bombers. No weapon or explosive material was found from their bodies and baggage. Separately, two people were killed in two separate incidents of firing in Jhal Magsi and Mastung districts on Saturday. In the first incident, unidentified people opened fire on a person, identified as Kareem Bakhsh, in Gandawa area of Jhal Magsi and fled from the scene. The man received critical wounds and died before reaching the hospital. Police said motive behind the killing was old enmity. Police handed over body to heirs after autopsy. In another incident, unknown armed assailants gunned down a person in Mastung town, some 60km from Quetta. The assailants fled the spot after committing the crime. The name of the deceased could not be ascertained. Police have started investigation into the killing.

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