KABUL: Taliban forces in Nawur district of Ghazni province have been accused of detaining, torturing and extorting money from local residents under the pretext of possessing weapons, according to local sources.
Sources said four residents from the villages of Khawat and Gorg Koshta were detained during the week after Taliban officials accused them of possessing weapons. The sources claimed that the detainees had no military background.
According to local accounts, two of the men were allegedly subjected to torture before being released after handing over money equivalent to the value of two rifles.
The other two residents were reportedly released on bail but were ordered to provide two rifles or an equivalent amount of money to Taliban officials in Nawur within one week.
The circumstances of the alleged detentions and payments could not be independently verified. No official statement from Taliban authorities addressing the allegations was included in the available information.
Local sources further claimed that similar cases of alleged financial extortion had previously occurred in Nawur, Jaghori and Malistan districts of Ghazni. Residents have expressed concerns over what they describe as pressure from local Taliban officials using weapons-related accusations.
The allegations come amid continued reports of security operations and arrests by Taliban authorities across Afghanistan. Taliban officials have previously said that weapons possession and security-related activities are subject to enforcement under their rules.
Further information about the four residents, including their current status and whether the alleged payments were officially documented, remains unavailable.