On the night of December 15–16, in the village of Hisorak (formerly Qurgoncha), which is subordinate to the northern city of in Kanibodom, the bodies of four more individuals were discovered, showing signs of violent death. This is the second such incident in the city within a week, and the authorities' silence is exacerbating local fears.
A source told Asia-Plus news agency that the victims included two men and two women.
"Presumably, they were killed by unknown individuals," the source stated.
Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, known locally as Radio Ozodi, reports that the deceased include Ghaybullo Majidov (35) and his wife Zarnigor (28). The couple leaves behind three children who were unharmed.
The other victims were identified as 70-year-old Oyisha Shokirova and her son, Javlon Shokirov (44). It is unclear whether anyone else was present in their home during the incident.
The source also noted that the bodies were still warm when discovered, suggesting the murders occurred just hours earlier. It remains unclear who first found the victims.
As of this publication, authorities have not commented on the discovery of these four bodies in Hisorak. Calls to the Sughd regional police, Kanibodom police, and the Interior Ministry have gone unanswered.
A series of mysterious murders in Kanibodom
This is the second mass killing in Kanibodom within a week. Previously, the bodies of six members of the Nematov family, including four children, were discovered. The head of the family, 37-year-old Naimjon Nematov, was found hanged in the garden, with visible signs of assault.
The other family members—his wife Nafisa (33), and their children Amina (13), Fotima and Zuhra (both 10), and Muhammad-Yusuf (2)—were found in their home, showing signs of suffocation.
Authorities also refrained from commenting on that case.
Since April, there have been at least five reported cases of family murders in Kanibodom, leaving residents gripped by fear. The motives remain unclear, and it is unknown whether the cases are connected.
Adding to the tension are rumors of masked individuals roaming the city at night, with videos circulating on social media.
In August, the Interior Ministry finally addressed the situation. In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Abdurahmon Alamshozoda stated on August 8 that there had been four family murders in Kanibodom, with two attributed to domestic conflicts. Suspects were reportedly arrested, and cases were sent to a court, but the number of victims and arrests was not disclosed.
Last week, Radio Ozodi reported that two individuals had been sentenced for involvement in these crimes. Marat Sattorov received a life sentence, while Sharifjon Shoyev was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
