One protestor killed, 21 injured in Parwan

CHARIKAR): One man was killed and 21 others were injured during a protest against the detention of religious scholars by foreign troops in the central province of Parwan, officials said.

NATO-led forces detained two religious scholars during an operation on Sunday night in Bayan area on the outskirts of Charikar, the provincial capital.

They demonstration ended and the Kabul-Mazar-i-Sharif highway reopened after several hours, Deputy Governor Shah Wali Shahid told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Several people suffered casualties in the protest, he said, without providing exact casualty figures. An investigation into the casualties had been launched, he said.

“I saw some injured protesters,” said a witness, Romal, who added police and foreign troops also suffered casualties in the violence. One protester was also killed, he added.

A body and 21 injured people, including a policeman and three students, were brought to hospital, Charikar Civil Hospital Director Dr. Abdul Khalil Farhangi said. Some of the injured are in critical condition.

Nearly, 200 policemen were sent to Parwan to control the situation, a statement from 101^st Asmayee police zone in Kabul said.

myn/mud