PAN, January 27, 2014
Public rep accused of aiding gunmen
She added that the murderer of her son remained at large, supporting by provincial council member Haji Mohammad
By Habib Rahman Sherzai
Residents of the Burka district of northern Baghlan province on Monday held a protest against gunmen involved in killing civilians and accused a provincial council member of backing outlaws.
Tens of people gathered in front of the police headquarters in Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital, blasting government for failing to take action against the gunmen who killed three teenage boys in Burka in one month.
Another woman, Mida Mah, also complained her husband had been gunned down by Haji Mohammad’s supporters but no action had been taken so far to detain the killers.
Noor Bibi told Pajhwok Afghan News one night assailants broke into her house, kidnapped her son and then killed him. The 35-year-old said: “He was the only breadwinner for our family. His death has left his eight children orphans.”
She added that the murderer of her son remained at large, supporting by provincial council member Haji Mohammad.
Another woman, Mida Mah, also complained her husband had been gunned down by Haji Mohammad’s supporters but no action had been taken so far to detain the killers.
“We are forced to raise our voice through the media and inform the authorities of what has happened to us. We want them to bring the criminals to justice,” she said.
Burka district chief, Abdul Jabbar Islami, also voiced concern at the activities of illegal gunmen. “Some months ago, I decided to arrest a criminal, who had joined a policeman in revolting against the local administration.”
A number of Haji Mohammad’s supporters had links to the illegal gunmen who once surrounded the district headquarters, Islami said, adding he had repeatedly referred the issue to provincial police. But no action has been initiated yet.
On the other hand, Mohammad rejected the allegation as baseless. He insisted the boys had been killed as a result of personal enmity -- not by his supporters.
But the provincial police chief, Aminullah Amarkhel, said they planned action against illegal gunmen. Steps were being taken to arrest the outlaws, he added.
Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) officials say they plan to collect about 1,000 weapons from outlaws in Baghlan province before the election.
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