DUSHANBE, July 24, 2012, Asia-Plus - Minister of Interiors Ramazon Rahimov, who is currently in Khorog, yesterday appeared on local TV and called on the population to provide assistance with detention of persons involved in the murder of Major-General Abdullo Nazarov, the chief of the State Committee For National Security (SCNS)’s office in Gorno Badakhshan.

According to Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service, Minister of Defense Sherali Khairulloyev, the SCNS Head Saymumin Yatimov as well as a group of parliamentarians are currently also in Khorog, the administrative center of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (Gorno Badakhshan or GBAO).

Meanwhile, officials at power wielding structures say two suspects were arrested in Khorog yesterday in connection with the murder of General Nazarov.

Major-General Abdullo Nazarov, 56, was reportedly stabbed to death on July 21.

Officials at the Prosecutor-General''s office said earlier on July 23 that the probe is focusing on indications that the murder was connected to the illegal tobacco business in the region bordering China and Afghanistan.

Investigators from the Interior Ministry, the military prosecutor’s office, and the State Committee for National Security are in Gorno Badakhshan investigating the attack.

Units of Tajik special security forces have also reportedly been sent to the region, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service said.