Nesh police using civilian homes as checkpoints

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of the Nesh district of southern Kandahar province on Thursday claimed police had established check-posts in their houses, but refused to pay rent.

Abdul Rahman, who lives in Dara-i-Noor village, said police had long been using homes of residents as their posts without paying rent. In addition, police asked locals for firewood and money.

Rahman said the poverty-stricken residents were unable to provide firewood to police. Local elders had shared the issue with the governor, who promised prompt resolution, he said.

One tribal elder Mohammad Hanif told Pajhwok Afghan News the district police chief, Noman, did not respect or implement the decisions taken by tribal elders.

He claimed elders had decided not to allow poppy cultivation, but police accepted bribes from farmers and allowed them to cultivate the illicit crop.  

He confirmed police had established check-posts inside civilian homes and forced residents into giving them firewood and other materials.

“The security situation has improved in the district, where little work has been done on the reconstruction front,” the elder noted.

Governor Toryalai Weesa, during a meeting with Nesh elders, had said he was trying to extend reconstruction projects to the town to create employment opportunities for locals.

He also assigned the police chief to investigate the complaints against police. Weesa asked tribal elders to help security forces in maintaining law and order in the district.

The Nesh district police chief refused to talk to the media about people’s complaints against the force.

nh/ma/mud

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