GHAZNI CITY (SW) – The Taliban rebels in Ghazni province abducted at least 150 school teachers from the Gero district, locals claimed on Tuesday.
Mawlawi Mohammad Ismail and Nadir Khan Gerowaal, two locals, told Salam Watandar the rebels abducted the teachers and staff members of some 18 schools in the district on the charge of withdrawing salaries from the New Kabul Bank. They said the rebels demanded them to withdraw their salaries via the ‘Hawala’ system instead.
They said the local elders have tried hard to ensure release of the abductees through negotiation, but to no avail.
Meanwhile, Muhibur Rehman Ansaar, head of the directorate of education, acknowledged many teachers in this district had received salaries via bank, and now the Taliban have kept a number of teachers with them until the issue is resolved via talks.
Mohammad Arif Noori, spokesman for the governor, said the rebels want to extort money from teachers through such tactics.
According to the locals, teachers in a number of Ghazni districts, including Qarabagh and Andar, have not received their salaries for the past six months.
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