A Hindu trader was gunned down by unknown gunmen in the Wadh city of District Khuzdar, Balochistan. Traders protested against the incident, blocking the main highway in the area.
According to reports, on the morning of Monday the 31st May, armed men opened fire on a Hindu trader Ashok Kumar s/o Manoj Mall after he refused to pay extortion money.
Ashok Kumar was taken to the hospital but he could not survive the injuries.
In response to the incident local traders along with the members of Balochistan National Party blocked down the Quetta Karachi road and protested.
Protesters demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of Ashok Kumar, they also demanded to provide security to the traders in Wadh including Hindu traders.
It is to be noted that this is not the only incident of extortion in Wadh or Khuzdar city where a trader was killed. Previously similar incidents also took place in the city where traders were killed or abducted for extortion.
Political activists claim that the state backed death Squads are behind these incidents.
Death squads involvement has been found in many crimes in Balochistan. This includes extortion, burglary, abduction and killings. However no further information was released by the local administration regarding today’s incident.