Ajristan residents hang 4 Taliban in revenge

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok):  Four Taliban militants were hanged to death by residents of the Ajristan district of southern Ghazni province in retaliation to the beheading of 15 civilians, a senior official said on Saturday.

Deputy governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi told Pajhwok Afghan News the decapitated civilians included women and children. However, the Taliban have denied their involvement in the gruesome incident.

Clashes that broke out in the Mohammadkhel and Langarkhel areas six days intensified on Friday, leaving scores of civilians and police dead and many others injured.

Ahmadi said several Taliban militants had been killed in reprisal attacks by locals, but exact figures were unknown as yet. “The beheading incident has angered the area residents who hanged four Taliban militants in revenge attack,” the official said.

The Taliban have so far not commented on the hanging of their fighters and they have rejected the beheading of civilians as a conspiracy against them.

Government officials said yesterday insurgents had captured a number of police check-posts and were zeroing in on the district centre.

But local officials and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the insurgents had been pushed back from the district center.

MoD spokesman Gen. Zahir Azimi said fresh troops had been moved to the district and more troops would be sent as well.

In an interview with Pajhwok, Abdul Jame Jame, the provincial council head, accused militants of harassing local residents.

Hazrat Muhammad, a local, confirmed the beheading of 15 civilians and the hanging of four Taliban militants in retaliation. 

He also confirmed scores of civilians had been killed and wounded, but gave no figures. “Heavy and light weapons are being used from both the sides and civilians cannot come out of houses and children are crying after frightened by loud explosions,” he said.

dai/ma

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