May 25, 2013 | Military Operation in Tump; Baloch musician's house burned down, two killed
Also see API Rights | May 25, 2013: Military Operation in Southwest Balochistan; Houses Destroyed, Body of Abductee Dumped by Josh Shahryar

Eyewitness: "First they opened fire, then they broke into the houses looting away valuables. Women and children kept crying watching forces burn down their houses."

HORRIFIED locals of Koshkalat, a small village located a few miles from Tump, dragged their children inside their homes, locked their windows and closed the doors when Pakistani forces besieged the area a day after burning down houses in nearby Gomazi village. This time too, the Army apparently had the same plan: to kill and burn.

25 armored vehicles and around 200-300 personnel took part in the bloody operation that killed two and left several others homeless.

According to eyewitnesses, army officials stormed every other residence in the corner looting valuables and setting the houses on fire. Army fired live ammunition and used teargas canisters throughout the operation.

Famous Baloch singer and musician Minhaj Mukhtar's house was among the first targets to be turned into ashes, an eyewitness said on phone speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Two, including 70-year-old elder Ghulam Mustafa, were shot and killed by the army during the operation. The other victim was named as Allah Baksh Dad, a local farmer. Locals had to wait for the army to leave before they could come out to retrieve the dead bodies.

Later, emotional traumatized women and children moved to help themselves by building huts out of the wreckage of their burned houses.

Following the attack on Koshkalat, the Army headed towards the nearby village of Malkabad where it broke into Mulla Saif's house and burned down the homes of several other residents. The entire village was besieged for a few hours, cutting off all road connections. Mobile networks were reportedly jammed during the operation.

Bullet-riddled body found: Meanwhile, another bullet-riddled body of a Baloch Missing Person was found in the suburbs of Mand. The body was identified as Babu Baloch, resident of Soru, Levies officials confirmed. Babu Baloch was abducted by Pakistani forces sometime ago.