Robberies, drug addicts increasing in Nimroz, say residents

ZARANJ (Pajhwok): A number residents of southwestern Nimroz province are complaining about growing population of drug addicts and increasing robberies, but officials dispute their claims.

Hajji Ahmad, who owns a mobile phone shop in Zaranj City, expressed serious concern about the increasing incidents of shop and home burglary incidents.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News that thieves broke his shop’s lock and stole 150,000 afghanis and all mobile phone sets from his shop.

Ibrahim, another resident, said: “A few days ago, some burglars ripped our gate off the wall at night and we found it in the morning that there was no gate.”

Ghulam Nabi, another resident, expressed similar concern and said five electricity lines passed above their homes, but thieves once sliced and took away three electricity lines.

The thieves cut short two power lines disconnecting electricity to many families, he said, urging security organs to capture the robbers.

Yet another Zaranj resident, Shamsuddin, said: “I was on my way home from mosque after night prayers when two motorcyclists blocked my way and threatened me with death if I did not give them my cell phone.”

A public representative, Niamatullah Sidiqi, believed robberies had 50 percent increased compared to last year. He said the level of crimes had gone also up with detective and security organs paying no attention.

“Stealing incidents and the number of drug addicts in Nimroz have reached an alarming level and seem beyond the control of security officials,” he added.

One security official confirmed robbery incidents were increasing day by day in the city and linked the situation to the increasing number of drug addicts.

But police spokesman Gulam Mohammad Omer, rejected claims that robberies had increased and said several robbery groups had been arrested and 20 stolen motorcycles recovered as well.

Abdullah Sher Anzi, crime branch chief, told Pajhwok that crimes had considerably decreased during the past three months and Nimroz ranked first in decreasing crimes and robberies on the national level.

He added around 13 cases had taken place in the province and all the perpetrators had been arrested by security organs. People who were buying stolen things had also been detained.

“A hakim for whom about 40 to 50 drug addicts worked has been detained by police and is currently under police custody,” he informed.

sa/ma