Reports of three gold-washing workers killed in Taliban raid in Takhar

Kabul Times News | Local sources in Khwaja Ghar district of Takhar province say that the Taliban security commander in this district, along with a number of his forces, raided a gold-washing workshop near the Kokcha bridge two nights ago, resulting in the death of three workers.

According to the sources, the workshop belonged to a person named Qutbuddin and the victims were residents of Khwaja Ghar and Dasht-e-Qala districts of Takhar province, as well as Samangan province.

The sources added that when the Taliban forces entered the area, one of the workers tried to flee the area, but was directly targeted and killed by bullets. According to the sources, two other workers, after being arrested and with their hands tied, boarded a Ranger vehicle, but out of fear, they jumped into the waters of the Kokcha River and died.

According to local sources, the workshop had an official license to operate from the Taliban.

A number of local residents also claim that some Taliban officials in the Khaja Ghar district are extorting money from gold-washing workshops and, contrary to the orders of the group’s leader, are involved in gold mining and are handing over or selling gold-bearing areas to companies.

So far, Taliban officials have not made an official response to this incident.