BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Hundreds of residents in central Bamyan province on Saturday took to the street against the killing of 24 Afghan Local Police (ALP) members by rebels and criticized the government for what they alleged demonstrating negligence.
At least 30 militants and 25 ALP have been killed and 18 other rebels wounded in Kabul-Bamyan Highway and clashes in central Maidan Wardak province on Friday.
The ALP forces also lost control of 12 security posts. However, security officials said Afghan forces regained control of all 12 posts in Jalrez district
Hundreds of Bamyan residents including civil society activists and members of provincial council held a protest in Bamyan City, accusing security officials, particularly ministers of defense and interior on negligence.
Bamyan provincial council head Taiba Khawari said that Bamyan people warned the illegally-formed government and its leaders to defend other Afghans.
“The security forces suffering from hunger and facing acute shortage of weapons while the government was watching them as silent spectator,” she said.
Khawari urged protesters to hold another gathering in support of security forces who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.
Around 20 ALP members who survived the clashes in Jalrez also participated in the protest.
Group leader of the ALP Mohammad Sharif told Pajhwok Afghan News that a number of their members were killed and some of them retreated to nearby posts after all their equipments finished.
He said he contacted Maidan Wardak police chief to send reinforcement but police chief was only assuring them of support.
Sharif said that more than 40 security personnel were killed during the clashes.
A civil society activist Mohammad Jawaj Saday said the government itself was the cause of the killing of ALP members.
mds/rm