SHEBERGHAN (SW) – The Taliban rebels are extorting AFN 500 from each home in Jawzjan’s Faiz Abad district on monthly basis.
Mohammad Noor, member of the provincial council, told Salam Watandar the rebels are collecting this money to support their insurgency. He said up to eight thousand homes are forced to pay at least AFN 500 per month.
A number of Faiz Abad residents said the Taliban’s clout is increasing in Faiz Abad, and besides extorting the locals, they also persecute them on different pretexts. They said those who decline to pay the Taliban the extortion money, they are trialed at kangaroo courts and handed over harsh punishments.
Commenting on this, Kamaluddin Yawar, director security for Jawzjan, acknowledged the atrocities committed by the Taliban in Faiz Abad. He, however, vowed soon a clean-up operation would be launched in the area to ensure peace and security.
The Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, has rejected the allegations of extortion.
ENDS
