Civilian death sparks protest in Zabul

QALAT (PAN): Residents on Wednesday closed shops in protest against the killing of a civilian by guards of a private security company in southern Zabul province.

A mechanic was shot dead by private guards, who beat up another without any reason in Seurai district late on Tuesday, a resident of Fathullah Khan village told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The area people, holding a protest in the district bazaar, asked officials to arrest the guards as soon as possible, Sher Mohammad said.

Police chief, Col. Abdul Malik Wahidi, confirmed the incident, saying that the private firm had been dissolved and its guards arrested on the charge of killing an ordinary man. About 30 different types of weapons were recovered from the company.

A doctor at the provincial civil hospital, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed receiving a dead body. He would not go into details.

frm/ma/mud