Armed men affiliated with a Baloch “pro-independence” group seized control of Bhag Narhi, a town in Balochistan’s Kachhi district, on Monday, killing the local Station House Officer (SHO) and torching government buildings, officials and sources said.
The attackers entered the town at sunset and took over the police and Levies stations, the Tehsil office, and a government bank, sources said, adding that the assailants confiscated weapons and vehicles before setting several buildings on fire.
SHO Lutf Ali Khosa was killed in the clashes, while two of his guards and a police constable were injured, according to police. Police claimed to have killed two of the attackers in return fire.
Videos shared on social media showed armed men patrolling the streets on vehicles and motorcycles, waving flags associated with Baloch groups. Residents said government employees were briefly detained during the assault.
The United Baloch Army (UBA) later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying its fighters had “taken full control” of Bhag Narhi, an administrative subdivision (tehsil) of Kachhi district.
UBA spokesperson Mazar Baloch said the group’s fighters had seized key installations, including the Levies and police stations and a government bank, before setting them on fire.
He added that the fighters established checkpoints on the town’s main entry routes and patrolled the area for several hours while clashes with Pakistani forces continued.
“The freedom fighters of the United Baloch Army have taken complete control of Bhag Narhi,” the statement said, adding that a detailed report of the operation would be released soon.
As of late Monday, sources said armed men remained in control of parts of Bhag Narhi, while Pakistani armed forces attempted to enter the area but faced heavy resistance.