In Balkh, women among 1143 crime suspects arrested last year

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Police in northern Balkh province arrested 1143 people, including 133 women, in connection with 660 criminal cases during the past one year.

Balkh police spokesman Mohammad Asif Waziri on Saturday briefed journalists about police performance in fighting crimes, drugs and strengthening security during the 1401 solar year.

He said that 1143 people, including 133 women, were arrested and handed over to the judicial organs in connection with 660 criminal cases including murder, kidnapping, drug smuggling, theft, forgery and electronic crimes in the year 1401.

He added anti-narcotics police destroyed poppy and cannabis crops on 172 acres of land, collected 9,943 addicts, with 9,046 addicts reuniting with their families after treatment and the rest being treated.

Waziri said anti-terrorism personnel arrested 14 people in connection with six terrorist incidents in the past one year and recovered 123 different weapons including rockets, machineguns, Kalashnikovs and pistols.

About the fire-brigade activities, he said, 153 fire incidents were dealt with , in which people suffered losses worth 185 million afghanis, and saved 127 million afghanis worth of goods from being torched.

They registered 25 cases of kidnapping in Balkh in the last one year and police rescued 24 people from their kidnappers and one person remained in custody of his kidnappers, the police official said.

Mazar-i-Sharif residents say security incidents still occur in the province that should be prevented.

Nasir Jamal, a resident, said besides crimes, bomb blasts also happened in Balkh and the government should prevent them.

Another resident, Ahmadullah Stanikzai said security in Balkh had improved, but more work was needed to ensure full security and safety of people.

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