Militia commander surrenders in Takhar raid: police

A militia commander in northern Takhar province surrendered in an overnight raid by security forces, police said.
Commander Naweed Khan, who has 200 armed men under his leadership in Khanabad district of Kunduz province, was in a health facility for treatment in Taloqan, the capital of neighboring Takhar province, when security forces conducted a raid to arrest him.
The commander surrendered along with his five men in the operation which happened after two days siege of the health facility, said Rashid Bashir, Takhar police chief.
Naweed is accused of carrying out illegal activities, but he denies the allegations and defied attempts to arrest him while he was under siege. Police said that the operation ended without any clashes or casualties.
This is the latest in a series of arrest of militia commanders who are accused of human rights abuses. The previous one involved Alipur from central Afghanistan, although he was released following violent protests.