Assailants barge into shop, shoot man: How Hindu trader was killed in Pakistan's Balochistan

A Hindu trader was shot dead by unidentified armed assailants in Noshki town of Pakistan's Balochistan province, local media reported, citing police on Saturday.When the trader offered resistance, the armed men opened fire and fled. A case has been registered against the unidentified assailants. (Representative Image (File Photo/AP))The victim was identified as Rakesh Kumar, a young Hindu trader, according to the Dawn report.Also Read | Pakistan vows to 'hunt and kill' militants after 42 killed in Balochistan in four daysWhat happened?Some unidentified armed men barged into Kumar's shop in the Qadirabad Stop area of Noshki Bazaar on Friday.The report added that when the trader offered resistance, the armed men opened fire and fled.They assailants left the trader dead on the spot. Subsequently, police reached the site after receiving information about the incident.The authorities shifted the body of the victim to the district hospital.A case has been registered against the unidentified assailants, the report said.Also Read | Train windows blown out, cars mangled: Soldiers on Eid leave killed in blast in Pakistan's Balochistan | What we knowLocal leader condemns killingGurpal Singh, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly, condemned the killing. In a statement on Saturday, he also said that the Hindu community has been an integral part of Balochistan.He stated that hostile elements would not succeed in creating fear among the people by targeting Hindu civilians, according to news agency PTI."The Hindu community has been an integral part of Balochistan for centuries and has repeatedly demonstrated its loyalty to Pakistan and Balochistan," he said.Also Read | Why Islamabad is losing the battle for BalochistanCall for justiceSingh also called on the Balochistan government and the authorities to deliver swift justice in the matter.He called on the authorities to immediately identify and bring the attackers to justice.Singh also reportedly termed it a cowardly act by anti-state and anti-Balochistan elements.Also Read | 40 killed near Pakistan's Balochistan after overcrowded, speeding bus falls into gorgeAsim Munir calls Balochistan militants 'foreign-sponsored proxies'On Friday, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir described militants active in Balochistan as "foreign-sponsored proxies."News agency PTI reported that, according to an official statement of the army, Munir made the remarks without naming any country while interacting with political leaders and others from Balochistan.Balochistan remains entangled in a separatist insurgency, led by outfits including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).(with inputs from PTI)