Balkh police taking action against illegal armed men: Chief

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents, public representatives and civil society activists of northern Balkh province say the provincial police headquarters should expose illegal armed men and their supporters and take action against them.

On the other hand, Balkh police chief Col. Ajmal Faiz said police have started operations against illegal armed men and militants in the province.

He said police first warned illegal armed men to abide by the law and stop their illegal activities, otherwise they would be brought to justice and exposed to the public.

He said police had disarmed more than 30 irresponsible armed men in Mazar-i-Sharif, the provincial capital, during the past one month.

Provincial council members and civil society activists in Balkh welcomed the police action against illegal armed men.

Mohammad Afzal Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News that police should have the courage to act against illegal armed individuals and expose their and their supporters names.

He said police should share their information about illegal armed people transparently to the public.

“Police should not hide the names of the backers of illegal armed men because it would produce bad consequences for the society,” he said.

Hadid said illegal armed men’s activities had decreased following control measures by 888 Police Unit.

Police should arrest irresponsible armed people besides exposing their names, he said, adding the public hoped the Afghan forces would be able to arrest all illegal armed groups who link themselves to some figures and political movements and engage in destructive activities.

He said police should ensure security of both Mazar-i-Sharif city and districts of the province.

Mir Roin Ansari, a civil society activist, said Balkh people knew figures who have their own illegal armed men or support them.

He said people should not give space to illegal armed people and cooperate with police in their disarmament.

“Residents of Mazar-i-Sharif know the corrupt, illegal armed men, thugs and anarchists and their supporters,” he said.

“Exposing names of illegal armed men and their supporters will not be enough, but police should take practical steps against them,” he said.

Mahnaz, a resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, said that Balkh police had no courage to expose illegal armed individuals and their backers. She said illegal armed men were supported by notorious local strongmen.

She said illegal armed men were freed most of the times after being arrested by police.

Mahnaz said security situation in Mazar-i-Sharif and a number of districts has recently deteriorated. She added illegal armed men were involved in robberies, murder cases and anarchism in the provincial capital.

The Balkh police chief said police were taking action against all illegal armed individuals equally irrespective of their party affiliations.

mds/ma

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