12 policemen held for aiding rebels, kidnappers

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): A dozen police officers have been detained on various charges, including assisting militants and kidnappers, in northeastern Kunduz province, the governor said on Saturday.

Mohammad Omar Safi told Pajhwok Afghan News the officials concerned had adopted measures to identify reasons behind the increase in kidnappings.

Safi said he had issued arrest orders for 32 police officers and so far 12 of them had been arrested and the rest were still at large but they would be detained. Raids were being conducted to arrest another 20 individuals involved in creating the law and order situation.

Some days back, the governor sacked the provincial crime branch chief, Kunduz City’s 3rd police district chief, urban chief for the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and another NDS officer. The axed officials were introduced to judicial organs for negligence in duty.

Kunduz police chief Syed Jahangir Kiramat also confirmed some police officers were involved in insecurity, corruption, aiding rebels and kidnapers, but they were investigating the issue.

He said the 12 police officers accused of various crimes were detained last week and others involved in similar cases would be arrested. “Every police officer, including me, if found involved in creating insecurity will be brought to justice,” Kiramat said.

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