Fall of Alingar district: Officials referred to court

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The government of eastern Laghman province has referred the Alingar district chief and security officials to the judiciary over the fall of Alingar district to the Taliban

National Directorate of Security (NDS), police headquarters and Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel were also referred to the court, officials said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Taliban insurgents claimed seizing Alingar, but the provincial administration said they had moved the district center to a safer place.

In a statement, the governor’s office said the provincial officials had made the decision late yesterday at a meeting of the military council.

Governor Abdul Wali Wahidzai chaired the meeting, which was attended by the deputy head of the 201st ANA Corps, the Laghman police chief, NDS chief and commander of the first ANA battalion.

The statement said the Alingar district chief, acting police head, the ANA battalion chief of staff and the NDS deputy head on Monday had requested reinforcements due repulse Taliban attacks.

In response to the request, the 201st Military Crops provided air support and killed Taliban insurgents, including a notorious commander.

But the statement alleged civilian and military officials left the district on Tuesday morning and their equipment and vehicles without any notice to the provincial authorities.

The military council decided that the officials had intentionally surrendered the district to the Taliban and they were referred to judicial organs for prosecution.

The four arrested officials are currently in the custody of the National Directorate of Security for investigations.

The statement promised they had launched efforts to send security forces to the district centre once again.

hr/mud

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