There are reports that 20 trainee police personnel abducted from the Gargina area of Balochistan’s Mastung district have been released and that all of them have reached their homes safely; however, there has been no formal official confirmation of their release.
According to reports, on 16 October unidentified armed men stopped a passenger van during a blockade at Gargina and abducted 20 trainee police personnel of the Kalat Recruit Training Centre who were travelling in it. According to police sources, the personnel were going home on weekly leave.
The abducted personnel were said to belong to the former Levies Force, which the current government had merged into the police. After the incident, there were demands for their safe recovery.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had also condemned the incident and demanded the safe recovery of the abducted personnel and a transparent investigation. The commission had stressed meaningful political dialogue instead of the use of force for lasting peace in Balochistan.
Government officials have not yet released formal details about the release of the personnel or the abduction.
