KHUJAND, April 5, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The number of killings is reportedly increasing in the northern Sughd province.

According to the Sughd police directorate, the latest killing was registered in the province on April 4.  A 46-year-old resident of the city of Isfara Olimboy Oripov died from stab wound on the way to the central district hospital in Isfara.

“The preliminary investigation has revealed that temporal resident of Israfa, Layer Rollan (phonetically spelled), 46, inflicted the fatal stab wound on Oripov,” the source at th Sughd police directorate said, noting that criminal proceedings have been instituted against Rollan under the provisions of Article 104, Part 1 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – murder.

Besides, the body of the 34-year-old resident of the Istaravshan district Abdurashid Ghafforov with signs of violent death was found in the pasture Qarayantoq in Istaravshan on April 4.  Rashid Ghafforov had been reported missing since March 5 this year.

The Istaravshan prosecutor’s office has instituted criminal proceedings to probe into Ghafforov killing. 

In the meantime, 16 killings have been reported in Sughd province over the first three months of this year alone, which is 10 cases more than in the same period last year, the source said.