Woman, son killed as mortar hits Ghazni home

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Two members of a family were killed and as many injured when a mortar shell hit their house in Gilan district of southern Ghazni province, residents and officials said Monday.

Ezatullah, a resident of Rasani area of Gilan district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the mortar shell landed on a house in the area two days ago, killing a woman and her son.

A second son of the woman and her husband were seriously wounded in the incident, he said.

He said the mortar shell had been fired from Angori area of Jaghori district, where Afghan security forces were stationed.

Niamatullah, another resident of the area, said many people of Gilan owned shops in Angori area of Jaghori.

“Few days back when clashes were ongoing in Jaghori district, a number of illegal armed men harassed and beat us and took our mobile phones, money and other belongings,” he said.

He said residents of Jaghori district believed that all Gilan people were Taliban.

Amin Ibarhimzai, a civil society activist in Ghazni, said the government should investigate about the Rasani area incident. He said people in the area lived in fear as such heavy bullets were usually fired there.

On the other hand, Ghazni governor’s spokesman, Mohammad Arif Noori, confirmed the incident but said the mortar shell had been fired by the Taliban.

“This incident happened three days ago and everything now is ok in the area,” he said.

Photos of the victims circulating on social media after the incident have sparked anger among local people. They ask the government to probe the incident.

mds/ma