3 killed, 24 injured as Badakhshan protest turns violent

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Three people were illed and 24 others wounded as police opened fire at hundreds of protesting people in northeastern Badakhshan province on Tuesday.

The people were protesting against shortage of drinking and irrigation water and increasing insecurity in the province.

They chanted “death to governor” and marched towards the governor’s house and threw stones at police. They were protesting against rising insecurity, failure to inaugurate the Shurabak dam and lack of safe drinking water.

Fathullah, a 28-years-old protester who injured, told Pajhwok Afghan News the protesters started their protest from Muzkashi field of Shahr-i-jadid district and rallied toward the governor’s office but security forces prevented them and started firing at them.

Injured by a hand grenade, he said, the protesters would continue their protest until the governor was removed.

Head of central UstadBurhanuddinRabbani hospital, ShafiqullahHamdard in Faizabad city told Pajhwok Afghan News that three bodies and 24 injured have been evacuated to their hospital.

Governor’s spokesman, NikMohammadNazari said the protestors set fire to some military facilities and government departments and also wounded security personnel by throwing stones at them.

He added the governor had not ordered air firings but security personnel did so to prevent protestors from destroying government facilities.

Pajhwok correspondent reported that the protest was still ongoing at the gate of governor’s office.

Hr/ma