QURGHON TEPPA, October 15, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Nouriddin Nabotov, acting chief of the police department in Qumsangir district, Khalton province and Mohammad Sharipov, head of the drug control unit (drug police) at the Qumsangir police department have been arrested, the source in the Khatlon prosecutor’s office told Asia-Plus Friday afternoon.

The source refrained from saying what for the Qumsangir police officials were arrested.  He, however, noted that criminal proceedings have been instituted against them under the provisions of three articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 319 (4) – bribery; Article 316 (3) – misuse of powers; and Article 20 – drug trafficking.

After the arrest of the police officers, the Khatlon prosecutor’s office has received several complaints from local residents who suffered of the detained police officers’ actions.  An investigation is under way.