MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Some tribal elders in northern Faryab province on Tuesday complained they were beaten by gunmen of a local commander after they refused to vote for a candidate of his choice.
Commander Dadi directed his gunmen to punish those refusing to vote in favour of presidential contender Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, they alleged.
Sardar Bai, an influential figure from Balcharagh district, complained he sustained wounds on his body when gunmen loyal to Dadi attacked him.  
Sakhi, a rival of Dadi, responded with thrashing elders Muhammad Tayyab, Khal Murad, Baig Nazar, Muhammad and Arbab Ibrahim.
Dadi, a former local militia commander, became furious after locals favoured Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Gen. Dostum, locals said.
But Dadi, who is affiliated with the Jamiat-i-Islami party, rejected the allegations and said: “Many parties and groups are active in Faryab. People are free to vote for a candidate of their choice. We did not interfere in this issue.”
However, police chief Brig. Gen. Tooryalai Abdyani said Dadi and Sakhi clashed because of their political rivalries and personal problems.
He said they planned to disarm both commanders if local officials failed to broker peace between them.
The administrative head of Balcharagh, Mirwais Daudzai, who was presently in Kabul, confirmed a written complaint was received by his office regarding the harassment and beating of some locals by gunmen.
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