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Published 21 Dec, 2021 01:22pm

Men accused of robbery forced to walk on coal in Balochistan

A video went viral on social media that shows two alleged robbers being forced to walk on burning coal to prove their innocence in the Sanjavi area of Balochistan.

The two men were accused of stealing solar energy plates from a tube well, reported Quetta Voice.

According to the report, Sanjavi Assistant Commissioner Hassan Anwar said officials were investigating the video.

Quoting a Levies source, the report stated a jirga ordered the two men, identified as Muhammad Raza Khan and Gul Zaman, to walk on the embers after they were accused of robbing the tubewell.

However, so far no action has been taken against the jirga members, who forced the two men to walk on coals.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Balochistan Chapter chief Advocate Habib Tahir condemned the incident, calling it "an inhuman act" that was paramount to challenging the writ of the State, according to the report.

Tahir demanded that a case should be registered against those responsible for forcing the alleged robbers to walk on burning coals.

The barbaric practice of walking on burning coal, called char beli in the local language, is part of the norms in Balochistan. If the accused walks on the coals unscathed, he or she is considered innocent while if their feet burn, the accused has to be guilty.

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