41 murders take place in Takhar this year

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Hundreds of criminal cases including 41 murders took place in northeastern Takhar province this year, officials said on Thursday.

A provincial council member, Wafeeullah Rahmani, told Pajhwok Afghan News police’s negligence was a major cause of increasing crimes in Takhar.

“The increasing number of illegal armed men is another factor contributing to crimes, but no one tries to prevent them,” he said, adding that a large number of policemen served for powerful individuals involved in such crimes.

About corruption, Rahmani said a large number of ghost police existed in the province and regularly pocketed salaries.

He did not provide any proof in support of his claim but said four people were killed by illegal gunmen in the past two weeks alone.

Shafiqullah, a resident of Taloqan, said no one could go to the city for shopping due increased incidents of robbery, murder and kidnapping.

“People are killed in broad daylight; gunmen riding motorcycles enter the city and escape after killing a person, no one hears the voice of victims,” he said.

He said gunmen killed a policeman in Gawmali area two days ago and escaped

“If police arrest criminals, bring them to justice and get them punished, it will help decrease crimes, but if criminals are released without punishment, nothing would improve,” he said.

Takhar police spokesman, Col. Abdul Khalil Aseer, confirmed criminal cases had increased and said 304 criminal cases including 41 murders were recorded this solar year.

According to Aseer, Takhar crime branch police were able to arrest 267 criminals and take them to justice.

“The people arrested are involved in robbery, murders, kidnappings and physical harassment and 41 of them are accused of murders, some others crime accused are at large but police are trying to arrest them too,” he said.

He added such cases resulted from personal enmities and increased activities of illegal armed groups. Police are currently busy fighting against militants and they have no time to disarm illegal armed men.

According to local security officials, criminal cases doubled in Takhar compared to last year’s.

sa/mds/ma