News Desk: Seven mine workers were abducted after eight armed unidentified men attacked a private mining site in Mahian Kor, Chagai district, and looted vehicles, fuel and other equipment worth millions of rupees.
According to sources, the armed attackers arrived on motorcycles at the private mines, located around 15 to 18 kilometres west of Chagai town, at about 1pm. They held the workers hostage before taking seven of them away.
The abducted workers were identified as Wajahat, Wajid, Shahid and Sabir, who belong to Gilgit, and three local workers: Ziauddin of Dalbandin, Shah Saleem of Mahian, Chagai, and Saeed Muhammad of Mahian, Chagai.
Armed men remain at mine site for six hours
Sources said the attackers remained at the mining site until around 7pm and carried out the operation without leaving immediately. They reportedly took away a Zambad vehicle, a 4×4 pickup, more than 20 solar panels, a motorcycle, bedding, kitchen equipment and gas cylinders.
The attackers also allegedly took 2,500 litres of diesel and 1,500 litres of petrol, besides other mining and household equipment.
Authorities informed, recovery efforts underway
The incident was reported to the relevant authorities soon after the attack. However, the seven abducted mine workers and the stolen equipment had not been recovered at the time of reporting.
The district administration has launched efforts to trace the missing workers and recover the vehicles and other equipment.
The incident has raised concerns over the security of mining workers and private mining operations in Chagai, Balochistan, where mining activities are an important source of livelihood.
