Faryab: 2 protestors shot dead by police

MAIMANA (PAN): Two people were killed and another 25 injured during a clash with police after a protest over the killing of a seminary teacher by a joint Afghan-coalition force turned violent in northern Faryab province, officials said on Thursday.

More than 1,000 people took to the streets in Maimana, the provincial capital, against the overnight operation that resulted in the death of madraasa teacher Qayamuddin in Arab Khan Mina. Two of Qayamuddin’s brothers and a cousin were arrested by the joint force.

The ISAF said the slain individual was responsible for military supplies to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and suicide attacks in northern provinces. It said the man was killed after he opened fire at the joint force from the rooftop of his house.

Carrying the victim’s coffin, the protestors marched on the governor’s house, chanting slogans against the US and Afghan governments. They called for the immediate release of the detainees.

Witnesses said the protestors attacked police in Sanayee square, injuring two of them and seizing their weapons. One protestor was killed and 20 others injured in retaliatory fire from police, they said. Police also fired into the air to disperse the angry crowd.

Afghanistan Nasir Ahmad said five protestors were killed and 30 others injured during the violence.

Public Health Director Dr. Abdul Ali Halim confirmed receiving 25 injured people, saying two of them died of serious injuries.

Hours before the demonstration, Governor Abdul Haq Shafaq said he had contacted officials in Kabul to discuss the release of the detainees with foreign troops.

The rally ended at around 4:30, but the protestors remained inside a mosque in the city, saying they would not offer funeral prayers for the victim until his killers were punished.

mm/ma/mud 

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