KHUJAND, November 13, 2010, Asia-Plus -- An activist of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) who has been on the list of persons wanted by police since May 2004 has been detained in Isfara district, according to the Sughd police directorate.

An operation carried out by security forces in the Chorkuh jamoat on November 12 led to the arrest of 45-year-old local resident Ali Aminov, the source said.

According to him, Aminov is suspected of having committed crimes specified in articles 186 (banditry), 187 (organization of criminal group), and 255 (deliberate destruction or damage of property) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code.  Investigation is under way.    

Isfara is a district of some 130,000 population and the Chorkuh jamoat is considered one of the most religiously conservative pockets of Tajikistan.