KABUL: Residents of Waygal district in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province staged a protest on Saturday against abuse and mistreatment by Taliban forces after local personnel beat a young man for wearing headphones, triggering public anger and a confrontation outside the district police headquarters.
According to local sources, the demonstration was held in the district’s central village after Taliban personnel assaulted and insulted the young man simply for using headphones.
According to the sources, the young man’s relatives and other residents subsequently approached the Waygal district police headquarters to seek an explanation and demand accountability for the incident. However, instead of addressing their concerns, Taliban personnel subjected them to further mistreatment.
Nuristan: Residents of Wama District staged a protest in the district’s central village against the beating of a young man by local Taliban militiamen, local sources told media outlets. https://t.co/IZHJjLrxnM
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Eyewitnesses said Taliban forces used rifle butts to beat demonstrators, violently dispersing the protest and intensifying local anger over the abuse of authority.
Residents identified the personnel involved in the incident as members of a group affiliated with Imran Jawhari, younger brother of Osman Jawhari, a former Taliban military official who served in Alingar and Alishing districts of Laghman province. The personnel are stationed at the Waygal district police headquarters.
Villagers stated that Taliban personnel in the area have repeatedly subjected residents to intimidation and mistreatment, raising concerns about the treatment of civilians under the current administration.
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The protesters called for an impartial and comprehensive investigation into the incident, demanding that those responsible be identified and brought to justice. They also called for the dismissal and transfer of the personnel involved in the violence.
A video shows demonstrators gathered outside the Waygal district police headquarters, providing visual evidence of the protest.
The incident has added to local concerns over abuses by Taliban security personnel and the lack of accountability for their conduct.
The Taliban authorities have not yet issued any response to the demonstration or the allegations of abuse.
