In a shocking attack, armed gunmen kidnapped 18 labourers from a construction company’s camp in Khuzdar district, Balochistan, late Thursday night. The attackers also set several vehicles and heavy machinery on fire, raising serious security concerns across the province.
This is the second mass abduction of workers in Balochistan within 24 hours, creating fear among labourers and locals.
The attack took place in Kaleri area of Nall tehsil, around 80 km from Khuzdar. Dozens of heavily armed men blocked the main road to stop traffic, then stormed the workers’ camp and the company’s stone-crushing plant.
They burned at least eight vehicles, including trucks and construction machines, before forcing the labourers into their vehicles and escaping into the nearby mountains.
Most of the kidnapped labourers belong to Sindh province and had come to Balochistan to earn a livelihood.
According to the company’s manager, 20 workers were initially abducted, but two were later freed, while 18 are still missing.
Workers are now terrified, and the company fears the attack will badly affect the ongoing road project connecting Khuzdar to Basima in Washuk district, an important part of Balochistan’s development plan.
After the incident, Levis Force, Frontier Corps (FC), and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) launched a joint search operation.
Local tribal elders have also been contacted to help trace the abducted labourers, but no progress has been reported yet.
No group has claimed responsibility so far. However, the region has a history of attacks by Baloch separatist groups, who often target development projects and non-local workers, accusing them of supporting government initiatives in the area.
Earlier the same day, nine labourers were abducted in Mastung district’s Dasht area, making this the second such incident in less than 24 hours.
The Balochistan government strongly condemned the attack, assuring that the kidnappers will be arrested and brought to justice soon. Authorities say they are doing everything possible to recover the missing workers safely.
