The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has described the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Hoshab, Kech district, as a serious violation of children’s fundamental human rights.
In a statement issued to the media, the BYC alleged that Rahi Essa, the 14-year-old son of Mohammad Essa and a school student, was shot dead in a targeted attack by what it described as a “death squad” operating with state backing. The organisation claimed the incident amounted to an extrajudicial killing.
According to local sources cited by the group, the shooting took place in the main market area of Hoshab. Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying that armed individuals, whom they alleged were linked to military intelligence, opened fire on the minor, killing him at the scene before fleeing the area. These claims have not been independently verified by authorities.
The BYC said Rahi Essa was a student and that international law provides children with special protection, prohibiting them from being subjected to violence under any circumstances. It argued that the killing constituted a grave breach of fundamental human rights and international legal obligations, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees children’s rights to life, protection and security.
The organisation further stated that the incident had created fear and panic among residents of the area. It claimed the killing reflected a broader pattern in Balochistan, where, according to the BYC, armed groups allegedly operating with state support act with impunity.
The BYC called on international human rights organisations to demand an immediate, transparent and impartial investigation into the incident, to ensure accountability for those responsible, and to press for an end to the activities of alleged death squads in Balochistan.