Militants ring former officer’s residence

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): A former police chief for the Gizab district of central Uruzgan province on Friday said militants had besieged his home for the last five days, killing four of his relatives and wounding three others.

Lalai, the former police officer, told Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone that his residence in Deh Gharan area had been ringed by the rebels. The security forces had failed to take any action, he complained.

He and his relatives had since been offering resistance, but the insurgents might kill them all if security forces did not come to their rescue, the ex-police officer said

Lalai served for almost a year as district police chief before being removed from that position. A fight erupted between Lalai and police at that time and the latter wanted to disarm him.

Lalai said he had refused to surrender his arms to the government at that time because he had an idea of the situation.

Mohammad Nabi, a local, confirmed Lalai’s home had been besieged by tens of militants for the last five days.

Abdullah, the serving police chief for Gizab, said he had informed high-ups about the issue. Dost Mohammad, the governor’s spokesman, said he had information but he did not think the situation was grave.

Col. Muhammad Aslam Kochi, the provincial police chief, said he had sought directions from the interior ministry in this connection, but he had not heard back from the ministry.

rm/mud

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