Cops open fire on protestors

Police and soldiers met protests with violence:

Several killed as police, protesters clash in Nangarhar
By Abdul Moeed Hashimi

JALALABAD, Aug 19 (PAN): Several people have reportedly been killed and injured on Tuesday during clashes between local villagers and law enforcers in eastern Nangarhar province.

Residents of Hesar-e-Shahi desert of the province protested a government plan for establishment of a residential scheme inaugurated by Gul Agha Shirzai Governor of the province a day earlier in the desert and in a display of opposition protestors closed the Kabul-Jalalabad Highway but faced police resistance.

Mumtaz a local resident told Pajhwok Afghan News police opened fire on the protestors leaving 17 people killed and injured. The residents claimed the ownership of the desert and government could not build any scheme there, he added.

Law enforcers and Afghan National Army attacked the protestors and went on hitting a number of journalists including Taqiullah Taqi of Tolo private television and broke his camera... (link)

The assaulted Tolo TV journalist, Taqiullah Taqi, has had previous run-ins with authority. He was present during the aftermath of the suicide bombing which triggered a shooting spree by US Marines in Nangarhar in March of 2007. Taqi and other journalists had their cameras or film confiscated by marines, who reportedly told him: "Delete them, or we will delete you."