KHUJAND, August 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Two killings were reported in the northern Sughd province last Sunday.  Both murders have been committed for the purpose of robbing refueling stations, according to the Sughd police directorate.

“The body of the refueling station operator with signs of violent death was found at the refueling station in the Dar-Dar jamoat of Sughd’s Ayni district yesterday,” said the source, “The station belongs to local entrepreneur Zinhorbek Isrofilov and the killed is the 44-year-old resident of Dar-Dar Zuhuriddin Hasanov.  The preliminary investigation has established that unidentified assailants killed the refueling station operator and seized 2,200 somoni.”  Criminal proceedings have been instituted and an investigation is under way.

The second murder took place at the refueling station in the Chorkuh jamoat of Sughd’s Isfara district.  The Isfara police department received call that the body of the 48-year-old refueling station operator Mutaqimbek Azimov with broken head was found in the ditch near the refueling station.

“The 28-year-old resident of the village of Rarz in the Ayni district Bahrullo Narzulloyev was detained on suspicion of having killed Azimov.  He confessed to the murder,” said the source.  “Narzulloyev killed the Azimov and seized 640 somoni and 110 Kygyz som.”

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Narzulloyev under the provisions of Article 104 (killing) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code and an investigation is under way.