DUSHANBE, August 3, 2013, Asia-Plus – The Border Guard Directorate at the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Tajikistan has not confirmed the fact of the murder of a woman from the Uzbek city of Kokand on the border, who was reportedly killed while illegally crossing the border river in the northern province of Sughd.

Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports the incident took place over night of July 22-23.  Ms. Gulandom Ibrohimova, 57, was shot dead while illegally crossing the Syr Darya River.  Ms. Ibrohimova was from the Tajik northern district of Asht by birth Ms.  Zulkhumor Shamsiddinova, the deputy chairperson of the Asht jamoat, reportedly confirmed the fact of murder of Gulandom Ibrohimova.

Gulandom Ibrohimov was engaged in business and she was reportedly shot dead while illegally crossing the Syr Darya River.

According to Ms. Shamsiddinova, Ibrohmova’s husband was with her during the incident and it was he who informed Gulandom’s relatives living in Asht of the incident.

It is still unknown from what bank of the river the shot was fired.  But residents of the border area say that the woman was shot dead from the Uuzbek bank of the river.

Meanwhile, Khoushnoud Rahmatulloyev, a spokesman for the SCNS Border Guard Directorate, noted that they do not have information of that incident.  “Whatever happens on the border is formally recorded, but this incident has not been officially reported, and therefore, we cannot confirm this fact,” Rahmatulloyev noted.