Police accused of beating up elders

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Pashtunkot district elders in northwestern Faryab province on Tuesday blamed armed men for roughing them, with a woman accusing border policemen of trying to rape her.

But police authorities linked the elders’ beating to a family dispute, saying security forces were not involved in the incident.

Some 20 elders and a woman from Ghar Tepa area protested in front of the governor’s office. They claimed border police personnel last night entered the woman’s house and tried to rape her.

With five children standing close to the woman, the protestors added that they were also beaten up by the armed men. The woman said the men entered her house by breaking the lock and started to harass her.

Saleh Mohammad a resident of Ghar Tepa, said the armed men had warned them against complaining to higher officials.

But Lt. Gen. Mohammad Naeem, the police chief, called the incident a dispute between families and said the woman’s husband was a militant currently in prison.

hg/mud