HERAT CITY (SW) – Intense exchange of fire between the security forces and an armed militia associated with a local politician in Herat left two people killed and over 40 injured.
Reliable sources told Salam Watandar the local politician Habibullah Ghoriani escaped from his residence in the Jabreel Township as security forces tried to arrest him last evening. At least 12 of his armed men have been detained with the weapons. According to the sources, two members of Ghoriani’s armed militia were killed and three others were injured in the clash.
Herat Governor Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali confirmed the arrests, and said that efforts were underway to detain him. According to the governor of Herat, after dozens of complaints from Herat residents about murder, kidnapping, coercion and torture against Ghoriani, security forces launched an operation to arrest the irresponsible armed commander.
“Dozens of public complaints are documented about beatings, illegal detention of people in his house [Habibaullah Ghoriani’s house], murder, coercion and drug trafficking. In no way could he represent the people of this place and the dignity of our people”, he said.
According to local officials in Herat, gunmen affiliated with Ghoriani were involved in harassment and beating of a number of residents of the province and had even shot and wounded them.
Following complaints from some relatives and families of the victims, security forces launched a military operation on Wednesday evening to detain Ghoriani and his men, however, his armed guards resisted leading to several hours of fighting between the two sides.
Credible local sources said that Habibaullah Ghoriani had been sentenced to more than two years in prison by a court for forgery, but so far, security forces have not been able to arrest him.
Herat Police Command had issued a newsletter saying that Habibaullah Ghoriani had long been involved in the smuggling and sale of narcotics, coercion, harassment and hostage-taking with his gang of 30 irresponsible gunmen.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, a spokesman for the Herat Health Department, told Salam Watandar that 39 people had been injured in the clashes in the town of Jibril in the province, with three reported in critical condition.
According to the spokesman for the Herat Health Department, the wounded included five security forces, three children and a woman.
Local residents said they suffered casualties and financial losses during last evening’s exchange of fire.
However, Ghoriani, while being wounded in one leg, praised the support of his supporters in a video message, called the government to be biased. He said in the video message that the police wished to arrest him for a small incident in which he enforced closure of a coffee shop where corruption and obscenity were taking place.
Ghoriani wished to run for parliament in the last Wolesi Jirga (lower house) elections, but his application was rejected on charges of drug trafficking.
ENDS
