PUL-I-ALAM (PAN-Gardez Highway in central Logar province, residents alleged on Sunday.
They said the gunmen emerged on the road at night time and looted passengers at gunpoint, fuelling insecurity in the province and fears among residents.
Abdullah, who lives in the Bani Sharfagan village of Mohammad Agha district, told Pajhwok Afghan News he was travelling on the highway a week back when gunmen intercepted the vehicle he was travelling in and snatched money from five passengers.
It was evening when they were robbed, said Abdullah, who complained to a nearby security post about the incident. He was told by security officials they had been directed not to walk out of their post at night.
In Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, a resident Ajmal said he was in a taxi taking him from Kabul to his home two days ago, when gunmen stopped the car and deprived them of valuables, including wrest watches, mobile phones and money.
A taxi driver, Abdul Samad, said one robbery incident took place in the limits of Mohammad Agha district few days ago. Five passengers were looted 500 metres from a security post in broad daylight, he added.
Similarly, residents say there has been an increase in incidents of stealing sheep from grazing areas. Crime branch official Col. Mohammad Jan Abid acknowledged some incidents of robbery had taken place on the Kabul-Gardez highway.
They had ordered increased patrols on the road to prevent such incidents, he said, adding tight security measures had been taken adopted on complaints from commuters.
Col. Abid said police had arrested two suspects in connection with sheep stealing. The suspected pair had confessed to stealing many sheep from different areas.
Mohammad Agha district chief, Abdul Hamid Hamid, confirmed security had been tightened on the Kabul-Gardez highway, but no arrest had been made so far in connection with robbery incidents.
ma/mud
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