Baghlan armed groups threat to law and order situation

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Some residents of northern Baghlan province have complained against the existence of illegal armed groups and termed them a serious threat for the security of the province.

According to the residents more armed groups created in the Deh Salah, Bano, Pul-i-Hesar and Andarab districts which caused panic among common people.

Haji Mohammad Nabi, a tribal elder in Deh Salah district, told Pajhwok Afghan News hundreds of immature armed rebels’ harassed local people triggering a fresh wave of insecurity and distrust among the people.

He said the issue had been referred to the government and provincial security administration, but no step had been taken in this regard.

Tribal elder Haji Mohamamd hailing from Lakan Khel village of Nahreen district said there were more than dozens of illegal armed men and usually fought against each other’s.

He said: A moth back fighting broke out between Mohammad Akbar and Khair Mohammad, commanders of two illegal rival armed groups, in the village and lasted for hours. Four armed men, two women and as many children were killed, while security forces did not interfere to stop fighting.

Shah Mohammad, a shopkeeper in Shahr Naw locality of Nahreen district, said armed rebels extorted shopkeepers and patrolled the village regularly which caused fear among the people and the government took no step against them.

Fazluddin Muradi, the town’s administrative chief, acknowledged that illegal armed groups existed in Nahrin district and turned a headache for the people.

Muradi said: “We referred the problems to governor house and police headquarters and they pledged to take steps to resolve the issue, however, no tangible efforts have been taken as yet.”

 Ferozudin Aimaq, provincial council member, said the number of irresponsible armed people soared to 1,500; most of them existed in Baghlan-i-Markazi, Barka, Nahreen, and Andarab districts.   

According to the local representative increase in the number of illegal armed men was due to the lack of attention of government.

Abdul Ghafor, one of the commanders in Nahreen district who has 20 illegal armed rebels, said the government was unable to maintain security therefore local people picked up weapon to defense their area.

He said: “The government doesn’t have any specific policy against the Taliban, and Taliban tries to overrun our village, therefore local people bought weapons from their own money to maintain security”.

Governor Abdul Satar Barez expressed concern over the increase number of armed groups in the province and said mostly common people suffered and were harassed by illegal armed men.

He said despite their support with security forces during operation the government chalked out plan to disarmed them.

There have been many illegal armed people in Baghlan province, but the exact figure of them was not available.

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