Two Fuel Carriers Killed by Military Gunfire Near Zahedan

News sources reported that two fuel carriers, who were injured on the last day of the previous year due to military gunfire in Zahedan, died from their "severe injuries." According to the website "Halosh" on Sunday, April 5, Ismail Salehnejad, a fuel carrier who was injured on March 19, 1402, "following a chase and gunfire from military forces in the Pogi Hajjiabad area" in Zahedan, lost his life. This human rights news source reported that "military plainclothes forces" shot directly at the fuel tank of the moving fuel carrier's vehicle, causing it to "catch fire," and after the two occupants of the vehicle were "severely injured," the "military forces left the scene." According to the report, Ismail and Basit Salehnejad, two fuel carrier brothers from the Shirabad area, were injured on March 19 during the "chase and gunfire from military forces" and were transferred to the hospital. Basit Salehnejad, "25 years old, married, and a father of two," died on Saturday, April 4, and his brother Ismail Salehnejad, 18 years old, also died on Sunday, April 5. This local media emphasized that the lack of job opportunities in Sistan and Baluchestan province has made fuel carrying the "only means of meager income and livelihood for Baluch citizens." Halosh, citing reports from government-affiliated domestic media, reported that in the year 1401, "at least 168 Baluch fuel carriers lost their lives just on the Iran-Shahr to Sarbaz route." Additionally, according to the annual report of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, in the past year, 29 fuel carriers were killed and 25 were injured due to military gunfire. Also see: Human Rights Organization: Judicial officials of the Islamic Republic executed at least 767 citizens in the year 1402. Voice of America has previously reported on the problems and hardships faced by fuel carriers and their families.