KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): At least 15 Public Order Police members were injured on Wednesday when a colleague opened fire at them in southern Kandahar province, an official said.
The early morning incident involved personnel of the police unit called “Ranger” that provides security for logistics convoys in Kandahar City, said the unit commander.
2nd Lt. Bulbul told Pajhwok Afghan News the force came into being after private security companies were dissolved.
The attacker, a resident of Helmand province, had recently joined the force, according to Bulbul, who said the injured belonged to Baghlan and Takhar provinces.
He said the attacker escaped with the help of his friends, apparently Taliban insurgents.
But Kandahar police chief Col. Rahmatullah Atrafi said the injuries resulted from an insider and ruled out Taliban’s involvement.
“It was not a political incident, but a dispute among police officers over a ban on motorcycle ride. Some of them opened fire as they beat each other. Three were injured,” he said.
The governor’s spokesman, Javed Faisal, said the attacker had been arrested. He added the incident was the result of an internal dispute.
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