Woman’s lynching: 11 suspects held, 13 cops fired

KABUL.

The removal of the 2^nd police district personnel happened in compliance with the interior minister’s orders to the crime branch chief to seriously investigate the Farkhanda murder case.

An angry mob beat Farkhanda to death on Thursday, set her body on fire and dumped it into the Kabul River as police officers watched.

Crime branch chief at MoI Lt. Gen. Mohammad Zahir, speaking at the burial ceremony for Farkhanda, assured the people that her killers would be arrested and punished in accordance with the law.

“On the behalf of the Ministry of Interior, I promise that Farkhanda’s killers would be detained and punished like criminals of the Paghman (rape) incident.”

According crime branch officials, the detained individuals had confessed to their involvement in the killing.

Gen. Zahir said investigation showed Farkhanda was innocent and did not commit any sacrilegious act. There were no sign of Quran’s burning, he added.

The official said policemen who had committed negligence in saving Farkhanda would also be punished.

Family members of the victim said she was a deeply religious woman and had a diploma in Islamic Studies and could recite the Quran by heart.

They strongly denied she had burnt the Quran and accused a prayer leader of levelling a false allegation against her.

nh/ma/mud

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