LASHKARGAH (SW): Locals in Helmand province have charged a district police chief for extorting money and fuel from the residents in Greshk district.
According to the locals, Mohammad, the police chief of Nauzad is using security forces’ uniform while extorting money and fuel from locals in neighboring Greshk district. Tens of citizens from Greshk lodged their complaints against the alleged district police chief of Nauzad for running a mafia of armed men who extort money and fuel from the residents. They charged that following the fall of Nauzad district to the Taliban, the police chief of this district has started to extort money from the locals in Greshk.
The locals charged that the alleged police official once came to a fuel station and asked the operator to pay him 50, 000 rupees and some 300 liters of petrol. They added that upon refusal, the petrol pump’s owner was beaten badly by the armed men of the police chief. The disgruntled civilians said they would reach out to the President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani if their complaints are not heard at the provincial level.
Sardar Mohammad Hamdard, head of the civil society organization has acknowledged that some men in uniform are involved in such activities. He urged that efforts at the higher level should be ensured to stop this otherwise the distance between the people and the government would widen.
Meanwhile, Mohammad, the alleged police chief for the Nauzad has discarded the allegations. He told Salam Watandar that a petty dispute occurred between the operators of the fuel station and policemen which has been resolved.
The provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat however, has acknowledged that some people are taking negative advantage of the uniforms. He added that efforts are underway to stop this practice and improve the image of the police force in the prorinve.
ENDS
