Mastermind behind attack on police chief detained

KANDAHAR (PAN): The mastermind behind a suicide attack on the Kandahar police chief, Brig. Gen. Khan Mohammad Mujahid, has been arrested in the southern province, an official said on Wednesday.

Mujahid was killed along with his two bodyguards in the assault on April 15 inside his office. Several others were wounded when the bomber in a police uniform detonated his explosives.

The investigation has been completed and the mastermind arrested, 404th Maiwand police zone commander, Gen. Salim Ehsas, told a high-level meeting that reviewed the security situation in the province.

Governor Toryalai Wesa, the 205th Atal Military Corps commander, deputy intelligence director, the International Security Assistance Force commander in the south, counternarcotics police chief and military officials attended the meeting.

Ehsas said the detainee would be shown to journalists after his identification.

Deputy intelligence head, Col. Abdul Wahab Saleh, said intelligence operatives arrested 12 Taliban, including a senior commander, last week.

Afghan National Army 3rd brigade commander, Col. Murtaza, said a dozen rebels were killed and wounded during a joint operation in the Sanzari area of Zherai district on Tuesday.

The governor insisted on increasing security patrols and intensification of an ongoing counternarcotics campaign.

Counternarcotics police chief, Gul Mohammad Shukran, said the poppy eradication drive was going on in all districts of Kandahar and 2,300 acres of the illicit crop been destroyed so far.

am/mud

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