A 37-year-old kolbar, Siamand Hassanpour, from Sardasht in West Azerbaijan Province, has died from injuries sustained during a chase by border guards in the Qandil Mountains, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.

Hassanpour was attempting to carry goods across the mountainous border region last week when he was chased by Iranian border guards. During the chase, he fell and was seriously injured. 

The father of two was taken to a medical centre in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, but died of his injuries on 10 October.

According to KHRN statistics, in September Fardin Rostamnezhad, a kolbar from Paveh, Kermanshah Province, died from his wounds almost 18 months after being shot by border guards.

Additionally, at least three kolbars were injured by Iranian border forces; two were shot and one was beaten.