The term “armed unknown individuals” is frequently used in media reports to describe the perpetrators of targeted killings and violent attacks in Sistan and Balochistan province and other Baloch-majority regions. While these incidents are often attributed to tribal conflicts and personal vendettas, reports suggest that Iranian security forces, including the IRGC, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the anti-narcotics police, play a direct or indirect role in the targeted killings of Baloch citizens.
Escalating Violence and Systemic Impunity
According to reports compiled in 2024, at least 469 Baloch citizens were attacked by “armed unknown individuals” across the region. Among the victims:
- 284 individuals were killed and 185 were injured.
- The casualties included 47 children and women.
- 17 children and 9 women were killed, while 14 children and 7 women sustained injuries.
While some of these killings may stem from personal disputes, the lack of action or deliberate inaction by security agencies in prosecuting the perpetrators and addressing the rising violence has led many human rights activists to view these attacks as part of a broader systemic issue. The failure of law enforcement to curb these killings raises serious concerns about state complicity and its role in perpetuating violence, fear, and instability in Balochistan.
