QUETTA – A complete shutter down strike was observed on Thursday in different towns of Makran Division on the second consecutive day against the alleged search operation of security forces in Mashkay Awaran. All shops, markets, private and government offices remained closed in Turbat, Mand, Tump, Gwadar, Pasni, Panjgour and other towns of Makran, causing immense problems for the people. The local administration took strict security measures to avert any untoward incident.Similarly, scores of activists of the Balochistan National Party-Awami took out a rally in Kalat town and staged a demonstration against the operation. The protesters, who were carrying placards and banners, marched on different roads and later culminated in a public gathering at central Chowk of Kalat.BNP-A leaders including Aziz Mughal, Sardar Sidique Dehwar and Citizens Action Committee member Mir Munir Shahwani addressed on the occasion. They strongly condemned the ongoing operation in Mashkay. They alleged that security forces besides brazenly violating human rights also set aside the sanctity of “Chadir and Chardiwari” by forcibly entering the houses and targeting innocent women and children inmates. Meanwhile, a Baloch National Front spokesman has issued a statement the other day stating that 16 people, including nine women and three children have been killed and six others seriously wounded in Tank, Chutak and other areas due to the operation of security forces. He said that one Auraz Muhammad was killed after being arrested and scores of houses in village Dr Allah Nazar have been destroyed, forcing the families to live out in freezing cold. He further claimed that many areas are under siege and the residents have been left with no other option but to face dearth of food. As per a Frontier Corps statement issued a couple of days back, security forces dismantled two camps of BLF terrorists during the search operation launched after the killing of two security personnel.