ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A number of Kurdish Kolbar, porters carrying goods across the Iran-Kurdistan Region border were shot at on Saturday by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, known as Pasdaran, an official told Rudaw.

Hassan Khdir, head of Qaladze Police Department, told Rudaw that all the Kolbars were from the eastern Kurdistan, or Iranian Kurdistan. They were fired on in the area of Heroiani on the border. An unknown number were wounded and killed.

He added that the wounded Kolbars were being rushed to the region’s hospitals, but had yet to arrive.

“We are trying to collect more information so as to assist them,” he added.

In the meantime, a source told Rudaw that in addition to being shot at, their loads were also set on fire.

Kolbars are frequently harassed by the Iranian authorities and many have been killed.

The French-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that two days ago another two Kurdish Kolbars were injured by Iranian security forces in the western border city of Baneh. One of them is believed to be in a coma. 

The rights organization said that in 2016 alone it documented 42 Kolbars shot dead by the Iranian security forces, and 30 people in 2017 have been injured.

Local villagers, mainly from the Iranian side, have for years been carrying goods and commercial items to sell on both sides of the border. This act has been deemed illegal by Iran.