MAIDAN SHAHR (Pajhwok): A public representative on Thursday accused an Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander of running a private jail and torturing people in the Jalrez district of central Maidan Wardak province.
Sharifullah Hotak, a member of the provincial council, said ALP Commander Karim was involved in torturing local residents in his private jail, forcing many families to flee homes for other areas.
He said the latest incident took place about a week ago, when the commander and his gunmen snatched a farmer, Habibullah, from a vehicle en route to the district from Kabul and took him to the private jail.
“After his arrest by commander Karim, Habibullah was mercilessly beaten and knocked unconscious for three hours. Later gunmen of the commander penetrated a hot steel rod into Habibullah’s nose and genitals.”
The public representative said if Habibullah had committed any crime, he should have been investigated and produced before a court of law.
He asked the human rights commission, the president, civil society, the UNAMA, media and local departments to investigate into Karim’s crimes.
The governor’s spokesman, Attaullah Khogyani, expressed his unawareness about the incident and said they had not been formally informed about it.
He said the new governor, Hayatullah Hayat, had launched efforts at narrowing the gap between the people and the government since assuming office. No one would be allowed to illegally torture people, he added.
Pajhwok made attempts to interview the accused ALP commander, but could not reach him. Facebook users have all posted comments on their walls about the said incident.
