PAN, July 1, 2013

Protestors accuse police of killing civilians

The demonstrators, carrying the posters of the three police officials and the slain people, chanted “death to killers”

By Azizullah Hamdard

Dozens of people on Monday staged a protest against Kabul police for killing seven people in the Deh Sabz district of the capital.

Seven civilians were killed and several others wounded last week during a clash between police and supporters of Haji Janat Gul, a brother of MP Allah Gul Mujahid.

Later in the day, hundreds of people staged an angry protest in the Pul-i-Charkhi area on the eastern outskirts of Kabul.

Allah Gul Mujahid Afghan member of Parliament (Photo: PAN)

Residents of 44 villages of the district on Monday staged the protest in front of the parliament, accusing provincial police chief, Ayub Salangi, his deputy Daud Amin and crime branch chief, Brig. Gen. Abdul Zahir, of killing the civilians.

The demonstrators, carrying the posters of the three police officials and the slain people, chanted “death to killers”.

One of the protestors said if the criminals were not punished, they would close the Kabul-Jalalabad highway. “We were reciting holy Quran when police came and killing seven of our youths,” said Malik Ahmad Jan, introducing himself as a tribal elder from the area.

Another tribal elder, Khan Sayed, said: “If the perpetrators were not handed over to us and went unpunished, we will continue our protests and block the Kabul road.”

Deputy Chairman of Meshrano Jirga Rafiullah Gul Afghan assured the demonstrators they would investigate the incident.

However, Amin denied the accusations as baseless and insisted police had not killed the civilians. A delegation had been appointed by the Presidential Palace and police would accept its decision, he said.

Characters Count: 2157