DUSHANBE, October 5, 2010, Asia-Plus – The commander of the Khatlon special police unit, Zoirsho Qalandarov, died in hospital yesterday evening of wounds sustained in a clash with militants of illegal armed groups in Kamarob Gorge in Rasht district, Asia-Plus has learned at the Khatlon police directorate.

We will recall four servicemen of the Khatlon special police unit were killed and the unit commander Zoirsho Qalandarov was seriously wounded in the clash between the government forces and illegal armed gangs in Kamarob Gorge on October 4.

Besides, the 45-year-old Senior Lieutenant Yatim Salimov was killed in a clash in the area on Sunday (October 3).  Two militants were also reported killed in Sunday’s clash.

We will recall that the government forces on September 22 launched a special operation to hunt down persons involved in a September 19 attack on a military convoy in Kamarob Gorge that killed at least 26 government troops.

Several days ago, the Security Council Secretary Amirqul Azimov visited Gharm, the administrative center of Rash district by president’s order.  He, in particular, stated that external forces that were unhappy with peace and stability in Tajikistan were involved in destabilization of the situation in the country.