Large group of gunmen plunder Ghor houses

FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): A large group of gunmen attacked a village and plundered dozens of houses after holding hostage inmates in the Tolak district of western Ghor province, a public representative said on Monday.

About 150 gunmen loyal to a Taliban and men before looting their belongings, said Abdul Basir Qaderi, a member of the provincial council.

He said the families belonged to Cheshti tribe and the gunmen who attacked them were loyal to Taliban commander Mullah Noor Ahmad and illegal commander, Mohammad. He alleged the incumbent district’s attorney, Abdul Aziz, was also involved in the attack.

He said he along with some elders travelled to the area, but they were not allowed by insurgents to visit the families. After a prolonged insistence, Qaderi said the insurgents took them to a room, where they saw the gunmen were slaughtering sheep that belonged to the families and forced women to cook the meat for them.

The governor’s spokesman, Abdul Hai Khatib, said a delegation had been sent to the village, about 50 kilometres from Firozkoh, the provincial capital, to investigate the incident.

But Qaderi said no delegation had so far arrived in the district.

Local officials say 4500 gunmen associated with nearly 100 groups and 2400 insurgents are operating in Ghor, harassing residents and creating insecurity.

hs/ma