<p>KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Twenty-five people were wounded on Monday when a protest turned violent in southeastern Khost province, an official said.</p>
<p>Residents staged a protest after security forces were destroyed houses built on land for an industrial park in Hasanzai area of Mandozai district.</p>
<p>The protesters claimed the government had grabbed their property for the industrial park. They wanted the authorities to return their land.</p>
<p>Police chief Akhtar Mohammad Nawrozi told Pajhwok Afghan News 10 policemen were injured and evacuated to hospital after clashes with the protesters.</p>
<p>He said it was state land and a delegation from the central government had earlier warned the grabbers to vacant their homes and not to create problems for the security forces.</p>
<p>On the other hand, resident Najibullah said at least 15 protestors were injured and taken to the Khost Civil Hospital and private <a href="/en/health" class="glossify-link">health</a> centres.</p>
<p>According to him, policemen cordoned off the area to raze civilian houses earlier in the morning. As a result, he added, area people staged a rally against the police action.</p>
<p>A case regarding the industrial park’s land between the people and the government was being heard by the appellant court, the man continued.</p>
<p>He explained they had reached an agreement with former police chief Brig. Gen. Faizullah Ghairat that no one would use the land before a decision was handed down by the court.</p>
<p>Dr. Sakhi Sardar, the hospital director, told Pajhwok 12 injured individuals, including, four policemen, had been brought to the hospital from the site.</p>
<p>Based on information from government officials, 14,900 acres of state-owned land exists in the area, with 400 acres devoted to the industrial park.</p>
<p>sa/mud</p>
