Dand district chief’s guards beat old man

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): An elderly man on Saturday claimed he was beaten and threatened by security guards of the Dand district chief over a landownership claim.

Mohammad Amin Akhunzada, a grey-bearded man, told Pajhwok Afghan News he was formerly a schoolteacher. Currently, he works on his farms and orchards in the Zala Khan area of the district.

Akhundzada’s family, including paternal cousins, owns 55 acres of land in the area. However, some of his cousins, who went to the United States and settled there, decided to sell their share of land.

Akhunzada said he, along with another resident, Haji Dad Mohammad, jointly purchased the land. The partnership turned into a dispute after Mohammad encroached on extra land.

A day earlier, Akhunzada claimed he was busy working in his orchard with some labourers, A group of armed men arrived and asked “who is Akhunzada? As I said I am Akhunzada, one of them twisted my hand and started hitting me with fists and kicks.”

The gunmen bundled him into a vehicle. “All this happened in front of villagers. The man who beat me is named Nadir and everybody knows he is a security guard of the district chief, Mohammad Hashim.”

Akhunzada said Nadir had asked him to withdraw the landownership claim in favour of Dad Mohammad. “Otherwise I would be killed.”

“The problem is that despite repeated requests, my partner is not ready for talks. That’s why he has befriended the district chief and wants to use force,” Akhunzada alleged.

He urged the government to investigate the case and bring to justice the man who had beaten and threatened him. But the district chief, Mohammad Hashim Agha, expressed unawareness about the incident.

Meanwhile, the governor’s spokesman, Samim Khpalwak, said they had contacted the district chief, but he had expressed his unawareness.

He said the matter was being investigated and anyone found guilty would be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Independent Directorate of Local Governance (IDLG) spokesman Tawab Ghorzang also said they were aware of the issue and condemned the beating of the elderly man.

He said the provincial government had been directed to investigate the issue and keep the IDLG informed about the progress. “If any of our officials is found involved, we will take necessary legal action.”

ma/mud

Visits: 0