DUSHANBE, February 7, 2011, Asia-Plus --  Colonel Saydullo Pirov, chief of the internal security department within the Ministry of Interior (MoI), was found dead in the room at Tavhid Hotel in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province on Saturday (February 5) morning, the source at a MoI said.

According to him, Pirov died under uncertain circumstances.  The source refrained from giving further details.  Therefore, it is still unknown whether Colonel Pirov was in Khujand on official business or on private business.

Tajik law enforcement authorities have instituted criminal proceedings to investigate the case.

Saydullo Pirov was buried at his hometown Danghara yesterday.

Saydullo Pirov was born in Danghara district on March 19, 1950.  He took service with police in 1979 and since 1994, he had served at the Interior Ministry’s central apparatus.  He was appointed to head the Interior Ministry internal security department in 2009.