Thousands rally against trader son’s murder in Herat

HERAT CITY (PAN): Thousands of people on Saturday protested the death of a 9-year-old boy in captivity of his kidnappers in western Herat province, refusing to bury the dead until suspects arrested in the case were punished.

Ali Sina Noorzai, son of Naseer Ahmad Noorzai, the owner of Noorzai Aluminum Factory, was found dead three days ago in the Khushk Pashan area of Ingil district, one and half months later he was kidnapped from Herat city.

Family members said the kidnappers had sought $400,000 in ransom, but they were paid $95,000 and promised the remaining money soon, but they killed the boy.

Nearly 200 women also participated in the rally that assembled in front of the governor’s office, calling for death sentences to the detained suspects.

Police said they had detained nine people, including three alleged kidnappers and family members of those on the run in order to push for their surrender.

The slain child’s mother said her son was kidnapped and killed in involvement of a bodyguard with her husband . She said President Karzai phoned her husband and promised help in seeking harsh punishment to the kidnappers.

Karzai on Friday called Noorzai and expressed his grief over the death of his son. He also discussed the incident with Herat governor and Supreme Court judges.

The protesters carried the dead body and placed it in front of the governor’s office, refusing to bury the corpse until his killers were awarded death penalties.

 “Until the killers are handed down death sentences by a court, we would continue our protest,” one of the  protesters, Mohammad Rafiq Shaheer, said.

Industrialists have already announced a three-day halt to production activity to mourn the death of their colleague’s son.

Nearly 75 percent shops, except food shops, were closed as part of the protest started at 9am and ended at 1 pm.

myn/ma

Visits: 5