Baghlan capital comes under rocket attack once again

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The capital of northe Baghlan province once again came under an oveight rocket attack from militants but there were no casualties, an official said on Thursday.

Baghlan police spokesman Zabihullah Shuja told Pajhwok Afghan News three BM1 rockets were fired into Pul-i-Khumri city on Wednesday night, landing at different areas but caused no casualties.

One rocket landed in the third police district limits and the two others near Farhat Hill on the outskirts of the third police district, he said.

Two days ago, a young man was killed and two children wounded when a rocket fired by Taliban militants hit a house in Pul-i-Khumri.

A week earlier, a BM1 rocket hit the office of the deputy goveor, leaving one person dead and a driver and three other civilians injured.

At least 17 rockets have been fired by militants into the city from nearby Dand-i-Ghori area so this solar year, leaving a man and a child dead and more than 10 others injured.

Residents of the city criticise the govement for failing to prevent these incidents. Mohammad Rajab, a resident of Farhat Hill said: “The govement’s clearing operation has been ongoing since a month in Dand-i-Ghori area, but it could not identify the location from where the rockets are fired.”

He said two rockets hit Farhat Hill around 10pm last night awakening sleeping residents including children.

The window glasses of some houses were also broken as a result of the strike that seriously terrified residents, he added.

The resident asked the govement to ensure security of the area otherwise people would leave their homes.

Some people have already left the Farhat Hill due to frequent rocket strikes, Rajab said.

However, local security officials said they had cleared Niazullah, Akakhil, Arab Tapa and Salangi areas of Dand-I-Ghori from militants during the ongoing operation.

Dand-i-Ghori having a population of 30,000 people has been under Taliban’s control over the past nine months. The area is located two kilometers from Pul-i-Khumri city.

Local residents expressed their conce over the presence of a large number of militants around Pul-i-Khumri and feared the city would fall to militants if the govement not paid attention.

mds/ma

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