KHUJAND, July 10, 2009, Asia-Plus — Criminal ring led by alleged activist of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) Anvar Qayumov has reportedly been involved in killing of two police officers in Sughd’s Konibodom district as well.
According to press service of the Sughd police directorate, investigation into case of Anvar Qayumov has established that his gang was also involved in killing of two Konibodom police officers in November 2005.
“Investigation has established that Qayumov-led gang was directly involved in killing of police officers Husein Muminov and Karimboy Jourayev in the city of Konibodom on November 27, 2005,” said the source, “Anvar Qayumov and several his people were in two cars staying on the side of the road. The police officers came to them to inspect their documents. They recognized Qayumov and tried to detain him but one of Qayumov’s henchmen – Ayubkhoja Shahobiddinov, – fired at them from assault rifle Kalashnikov. Muminov and Jourayev died on the spot and criminals escaped.”
The source noted that Qayumov and his confederates were going to attack the pretrial detention of the Qairoqqum police department that day in order to release another member of the gang, Fathullo Rahimov. “But because of killing of the Konibodom police officers they did not do that,” the source said.
We will recall that unidentified men attacked a pretrial detention facility of the Qairoqqum police department on January 25, 2006. Assailants killed the prison warden Bobojon Gadoboyev and freed Fathullo Rahimov, who had been arrested on suspicion of having had contacts with the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
According to the Sughd police directorate, in 1997, after having taken special training, Anvar Qayumov was sent to Isfara to recruit residents of Sughd province to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Qayumov had reportedly headed IMU’s cell in Isfara. Qayumov was detained on January 16, 2009 and charges of terrorism and setting criminal group were officially brought against him. An investigation is under way.
