25 wounded as Khost protest turns violent

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Twenty-five people were wounded on Monday when a protest turned violent in southeastern Khost province, an official said.

Residents staged a protest after security forces were destroyed houses built on land for an industrial park in Hasanzai area of Mandozai district.

The protesters claimed the government had grabbed their property for the industrial park. They wanted the authorities to return their land.

Police chief Akhtar Mohammad Nawrozi told Pajhwok Afghan News 10 policemen were injured and evacuated to hospital after clashes with the protesters.

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.

On the other hand, resident Najibullah said at least 15 protestors were injured and taken to the Khost Civil Hospital and private health centres.

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.

A case regarding the industrial park’s land between the people and the government was being heard by the appellant court, the man continued.

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.

Dr. Sakhi Sardar, the hospital director, told Pajhwok 12 injured individuals, including, four policemen, had been brought to the hospital from the site.

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.

sa/mud