Rights body expresses concern over continuing enforced disappearance of Baloch civilians in Pakistan

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Islamabad, Nov 1 (IANS) A leading human rights organisation on Sunday alleged that a Baloch student was forcibly ‘disappeared’ from Pakistan’s Punjab province and demanded his immediate release.

The latest incident comes against the backdrop of a growing wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances of Baloch civilians.

Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) alleged that Taqleen Baloch was taken into custody in Punjab’s Bahawalpur on Thursday and taken to an undisclosed place.

“VBM has expressed concern over the enforced disappearance of Baloch student Taqleen Baloch and demanded their immediate recovery. Taqleen Baloch was allegedly taken into custody in front of Japan Town on Haji Pur Road, Bahawalpur, at 3 PM on October 29, 2026, and then transferred to an undisclosed location,” VBMP posted on X.

The VBMP’s protest camp against enforced disappearances continued in front of the Quetta Press Club for the 6,405th day.

“The protest camp of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) against enforced disappearances continued for the 6405th day in front of the Quetta Press Club. The organisation expressed deep concern over the continued non-recovery of Zafar Baloch, Sohail Ahmed, and Fasihullah, and demanded their immediate recovery,” VBMP posted on X.

In September, human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) highlighted enforced disappearances and targeted killings across Balochistan, allegedly carried out by Pakistani forces.

According to BYC’s Human Rights Department’s report, a total of 507 individuals were subjected to enforced disappearance by Pakistani state authorities, security agencies, and state-backed death squads in Balochistan in the first six months of this year. Among these, 150 were released after short-term detention, 32 were killed while in custody, and 303 remain missing, with no information shared with their families about their fate or whereabouts.

The victims in enforced disappearances included 44 minors and over 20 women. Quetta and Kech recorded the highest number of documented cases of enforced disappearance in Balochistan.

The BYC accused the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of being involved in most of these cases.

It alleged that several state institutions were involved in the enforced disappearances and linked paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) in 180 cases, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in 93 cases, the army in 42 cases, and death squads in 20 documented cases. Some other cases were perpetrated in combined operations by forces, intelligence agencies, CTD, police, and death squads.

The BYC’s Human Rights Department documented 150 cases of killings of Baloch civilians, including 15 minors, during the first half of 2026. According to the BYC, Panjgur reported the highest number of killings, followed by Kech and Gwadar. The BYC alleged that state-backed death squads were the major perpetrators of killings, followed by the FC and the army.

In the report, the BYC alleged that Pakistani authorities have been using various methods to torture, intimidate and break the will of Baloch activists, Mahrang Baloch and Bebarg Baloch (specially-abled person), who have remained in detention since March last year. The BYC said that both of them have been denied access to basic medical care several times by the prison authorities at the behest of intelligence agencies.

–IANS

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​Guwahati, Feb 17 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday undertook a detailed review of poll preparedness for the forthcoming Assam Legislative Assembly elections, with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi holding extensive interactions with political parties and senior officials in Guwahati.

The review marked the first day of the Commission’s two-day visit to the state on February 17 and 18. ​

During the visit, the ECI interacted with representatives of recognised national and state political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), United People’s Party Liberal, and the Bodoland People’s Front. ​

The Commission provided each political party an opportunity to place its views, concerns, and suggestions, with an emphasis on ensuring that the forthcoming Assembly elections are conducted in a transparent, free, and impartial manner. ​

According to the ECI, the majority of political parties favoured holding the elections in a single phase or, at most, in two phases. Parties also urged the Commission to take into account the Bihu festival while scheduling the election dates.​

During interactions, political parties generally appreciated the conduct of the Special Revision of the Electoral Rolls in Assam and offered suggestions to ensure peaceful and orderly elections across the state. ​

Following the interaction with political parties, the Commission held a comprehensive review meeting with Inspector Generals, Deputy Inspector Generals, District Election Officers (DEOs), and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs). ​

The discussions covered all key aspects of election preparedness, including election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of election personnel, seizures, law and order arrangements, voter awareness initiatives, and outreach activities.​

CEC Gyanesh Kumar stressed that the elections must be conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution of India, relevant electoral laws, and the Election Commission’s instructions. ​

The Commission directed all DEOs, SSPs, and the state administration to act with complete impartiality and to ensure prompt redressal of complaints and grievances raised by political parties. ​

The ECI also instructed officials to make concerted efforts to create a pleasant voting experience by ensuring polling stations are festive, welcoming, and voter-friendly. ​

Additionally, all DEOs and Superintendents of Police were asked to closely monitor social media for fake news and misinformation and to take swift and appropriate legal action wherever required.

​–IANS

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Odisha Crime Branch arrests cyber fraudster from Maha

Bhubaneswar, Jan 21 (IANS) The Crime Branch of Odisha Police has arrested one accused from Maharashtra in connection with a digital arrest fraud case involving an amount of Rs 62.18 lakhs.

The Crime Branch, in a press note issued on Wednesday, further revealed that the victim, a private company employee, on 6 July 2024 received a WhatsApp video call from a mobile number, with the caller claiming to be from Mumbai Tilaknagar Police.

The fraudster alleged that an arrest warrant had been issued against the victim for involvement in a money laundering case and showed a Canara Bank debit card bearing the victim’s name and photo, along with a link falsely indicating his involvement in such a case.

The victim was threatened with arrest unless he appeared before the Mumbai Tilaknagar Police or agreed to an online interrogation. He was also warned not to disclose the matter to anyone.

“Out of fear, the victim agreed to the online process. He was then instructed to undergo a so-called financial audit by transferring money to the RBI. The victim transferred a total amount of Rs 62.18 lakhs from his ICICI Bank savings account to six different bank accounts provided by the fraudsters,” informed the Crime Branch.

Based on a complaint lodged by the victim, the Crime Branch launched a probe into the matter after registering a case (40/24) in this regard on July 18, 2024.

The sleuths, after analysing the transaction details and working on other digital evidence, arrested an accused fraudster from Pune in Maharashtra.

The accused was identified as Ramesh Aanjana (31), who originally hails from Rajasthan, is currently staying in Pune, of Maharstra.

The cops also seized different incriminating materials such as mobile phones, SIMs, etc., from the possession of the accused person.

Crime Branch sleuths have also arrested two more accused cybercriminals from Pune in Maharashtra and Surat in Gujarat in two separate cases of cyber fraud.

–IANS

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US food outbreaks spread across dozens of states

Washington, Aug 10 (IANS) US health agencies are tracing multiple outbreaks and contamination risks involving lettuce, meat, poultry, eggs and fresh produce across dozens of states, as the country’s top medical research official sought reassure consumers about the safety of the food supply.

US National Institutes of Health Director Dr Jay Bhattacharya acknowledged that an outbreak of cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce from Mexico was larger than those recorded in typical years. The outbreak has reached 15 states and two deaths were reported during the past week, according to information presented during his interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

“The- the cyclospora outbreak is larger than in normal years,” Bhattacharya said.

He said the two deaths occurred in late June and early July, before authorities identified the source of the outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration were now working to trace the contamination and stop affected products from reaching consumers, he said.

“The CDC and the FDA are working hard to trace back exactly where these outbreaks are occurring from, intervening with the- the sort of suppliers to make sure that they don’t- and doing recalls to make sure that the disease doesn’t- the, you know, condition doesn’t spread,” Bhattacharya said.

The warnings come as Americans face several food-related health concerns at the same time. CBS anchor said the Agriculture Department had issued an alert covering meat and poultry products that could contain salmonella.

The anchor also cited possible salmonella contamination linked to jalapenos across 27 states, with cilantro, red onion and avocado included in a CDC notice. The Albertsons grocery chain had recalled some products, while authorities were also investigating salmonella risks involving eggs in Texas, Brennan said.

A separate screwworm outbreak has affected the beef supply.

Bhattacharya, who is temporarily helping to run the CDC until a new director is sworn in, said consumers could still purchase lettuce but should take precautions when preparing it.

“We’re working hard to make sure that the contaminated sources don’t get onto the shelves,” he said.

“If you’re worried, you can buy that- buy the lettuce, but make sure you wash it carefully. You don’t eat outer leaves. And if you’re really worried, just, you know, cook your vegetables,” he added.

Asked whether the United States should restrict food imports from central Mexico, Bhattacharya said he could not speak on behalf of the FDA. He defended the work of agency personnel investigating the outbreaks, however.

Bhattacharya said cyclospora contamination was particularly difficult to trace because identifying its exact source was more complicated than investigating a bacterial outbreak.

“For cyclospora specifically, it’s complicated because for technical reasons, it’s much- it’s more difficult than if it was just a bacteria to find the exact source,” he said.

Bhattacharya did not announce any new import restrictions or provide a timetable for completing the investigations.

Cyclospora infection is caused by a microscopic parasite and is commonly associated with contaminated fresh produce. It can cause prolonged diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, fatigue and loss of appetite. Symptoms may persist or return if the infection is not treated.

Salmonella is a bacterial infection commonly transmitted through contaminated food. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness. New World screwworm, meanwhile, is a parasitic fly whose larvae infest wounds in warm-blooded animals and can pose a serious threat to livestock.

–IANS

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