DUSHANBE, July 20, 2011, Asia-Plus — The Interior Ministry directorate in the Rasht Valley that was established last year is currently working efficiently, Minister of Interiors Abdurahim Qahhorov told reporters in Dushanbe on July 20.
According to him, eight supporters of the former United Tajik Opposition (UTO) field commanders Mirzokhouja Ahmadov and Shoh Iskandarov have been accepted for employment in this directorate. Moreover, Shoh Iskandarov was appointed as deputy head of the Interior Ministry directorate in the Rasht Valley.
“These persons have shown themselves to good advantage during a military operation against Alovuddin Davlatov (Ali Bedaki) and Abdullo Rahimov (Mullo Abdullo),” the minister noted.
Asked about the fate of Mirzokhouja Ahmadov, who headed the department combating organized crime in Rasht Valley until he was forced into early retirement in 2008, Qahhorov noted that investigation into Ahamdov’s case was still going on. “If the case is dismissed in the absence of crime in the act, he may be accepted fro employment with the Interior Ministry forces and we will find suitable position fro him,” the minister stressed.
Mirzokhouja Ahmadov and his fighters are natives of the Rasht Valley. Ahmadov was one of field commanders of the former UTO during the civil war in the mid-1990s but was later appointed to a senior police post as part of a broader attempt at reintegrating former opposition militant leader. He served as the chief of the regional department empowered to combat organized crime in Rasht Valley until he was forced into early retirement in 2008.
On September 19, 2010, at least 28 government servicemen were killed in an ambush in Rasht”s Kamarob Gorge that the government blamed on Abdullo Rahimov (Mullo Abdullo) and Alovuddin Davlatov (Ali Bedaki). Mirzokhouja Ahmadov and his followers laid down their weapons and joined the government forces in a military operation against Abdullo Rahimov and Alovuddin Davlatov, who were killed earlier this year.
