KABUL (SW) – A number of public representatives on Saturday blamed the National Security Council for not paying due attention to the unrest in Behsud district of Maidan Wardag province.
Mehdi Rasekh, a representative of Maidan Wardag province in the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), told a press conference in Kabul in connection with the recent incident in the province that government forces had opened fire on civilians in Behsud. According to him, a number of MPs from Maidan Wardag had asked the NSC to investigate the incident, but it paid no attention to it.
Demonstrations in the Behsud turned violent on Friday resulting in shelling by security forces that resulted in casualties.
Mehdi Rasekh charged that in addition to killing of civilians, security forces also took a number of them hostage.
Ali Akbar Qasemi, an MP from Ghazni province, said on the occasion the government’s inability to provide security for the public forced them to take up arms and ensure security for themselves.
Organizer of the press conference, Asghar Soroush, read out a resolution at the end urging the government to take swift measures in stopping attack on civilians.
Meanwhile, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian has said that security forces were in the area for several days to introduce new police commanders in Behsud and to strengthen police checkpoints. He charged local commander Ali Pur for preventing it.
According to the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, a number of individuals disguised as demonstrations surrounded the administrative building in Behsud district for this. He confirmed that nine individuals were killed and a number of security forces and civilians were wounded in clashes between security forces and gunmen affiliated with Ali Pur.
Salam Watandar wished to have the views of the National Security Council in this report, but to no avail.
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