Afghan woman police chief shot dead
Published Date:
29 September 2008
By Sayed Salahuddin
UNIDENTIFIED gunmen shot dead the most senior woman police officer in southern Afghanistan yesterday.
Lieut-Colonel Malalai Kakar was killed in her car in an area of Kandahar city where she resumed her job after US-led forces in 2001 overthrew the Taleban government which had barred women.
She had led many police house searches in Kandahar leading to seizure of arms and drugs in recent years.
"Unknown gunmen from a car killed her when she was heading to her office," provincial spokesman Zalmai Ayoubi said. The motive was still being investigated.
Lt-Col Kakar's son was wounded in the attack, witnesses said.
Officials have yet to comment about the killing of the 45-year-old officer who had survived several assassination attempts.
Kandahar is part of the main bastion for Taleban, but drug smugglers, criminals and some tribal rivalries have also contributed to some violence there.
The killing comes amid escalation of violence in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest period since the overthrow of the Taleban.
The full article contains 173 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
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Last Updated:
28 September 2008 10:42 PM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
Afghanistan
