QURGHON TEPPA, January 22, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- In 2009, 414 local women committed crimes in the Khatlon province, the Khatlon police directorate chief Abdurahmon Buzmakov said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, they were mostly involved in fraud (134 cases).  Besides, 68 thefts were committed by women in the province last year.  Six women were convicted for keeping bawdyhouses, Buzmakov said.

He added that a large number of people killing themselves evokes serious concern of local authorities, though the number of suicides decreased in the province last year compared to 2008.

“In 2009, 133 suicides were registered in Khatlon, which is 12 cases fewer than in 2008,” the Khatlon chief police officer said, adding that local authorities set up a special group to stem an increase in the number of suicides in the area.

This group consists of representatives from local authorities and public associations, Buzmakov noted.