In a distressing incident at the Hangazhall border in Baneh, five Kolbars, identified as Heydar and Edris from Saqqez, alongside Ehsan Abdullahzadeh, Zaniar, and Karim from Baneh, sustained severe injuries due to direct gunfire from border forces.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights received reports on Thursday, March 6, 2024, detailing the harrowing ordeal faced by the Kolbars. Ehsan Abdullahzadeh, a 19-year-old, and Zaniar, aged 25, both hailing from Baneh, were gravely wounded by the direct gunfire of border forces.

Sources indicate that government forces, after issuing death threats, coerced the victims into contacting emergency services under the pretense of needing assistance, only to then open fire from a mere two meters away.

Ehsan Abdullahzadeh suffered severe injuries to both legs, while Zaniar's left leg sustained critical wounds. Zaniar's health condition has been described as critical.

In a parallel incident on the same day, Heydar and Edris, two Kolbars from Saqqez in Sanandaj province, also fell victim to severe injuries inflicted by direct gunfire from border forces at the Hangazhall border in Baneh.

The circumstances surrounding these shootings have sparked outrage and concern among human rights organizations, with calls for a thorough investigation into the actions of the border forces.

The injured Kolbars are currently receiving medical treatment, but their condition remains precarious. This incident underscores the dangers faced by Kolbars, who often engage in the perilous work of cross-border trading amidst heightened security measures in the region.