Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Baghlan Shooting Survivor Says Religion Was the Motive

Baghlan Shooting Survivor Says Religion Was the Motive

KABUL - One of the Baghlan coal miners who survived a deadly shooting on Friday in Tala wa Barfak in Baghlan, said Saturday the group had been targeted due to their religious beliefs.
Early reports indicated 13 coal miners were gunned down by a group of gunmen affiliated to Daesh but on Saturday officials said eight had died and three were wounded. Three others managed to escape.
Mohammad Hussain one of the survivors said the reason was due to their beliefs. Hussain was shot in the back and is being treated in the Pul-e-Khumri hospital.
“We were trying to escape in our vehicle when they [Daesh] shot us. They killed one person and then stopped us and told us you belong to another religion and your death is allowed and then they started shooting us and others fell in the river and I got wounded in my back,” Hussain said.
He said the gunmen, who were masked, called them non-believers.
“We were all colleagues and we were told that we are not Muslim. We told them we are Muslims and that we are workers and we have families and children but they did not care and they shot us,” Hussain said.
Relatives of the victims have called for justice and said that government must prosecute those responsible.
“… our sin is that we are Hazara and we have been killed and the government must stop killing Hazara people,” said Hassan, Hussain’s brother.
Meanwhile Baghlan provincial council blame security forces for failing to provide adequate security. 
“If killing of Hazara people continues, I think government will not be able to stop such movements. Government is not able to provide security for the people,” said Bismillah Batash a provincial council member.
Baghlan provincial governor Abdul Satar Bariz, said they will bring the culprits to justice. 
“The crime the enemy has done against our people is an act against humanity and against Islam and they carry out these acts on the orders of their bosses,” said Bariz.
“Eight people were killed and three others were wounded and three others escaped and we have transferred two wounded to Mazar-e-Sharif,” said Amirgul Hussain Khail, Baghlan police security head.
Taliban rejected any involvement in the incident but local officials linked the incident to Daesh.  (Tolonews)