The people of Herat are worried about the increase in armed robberies
A large number of citizens of Herat province have complained about what they call armed robberies and say that armed people create checkpoints in some areas of this city and empty people’s pockets by using work.
Aref is one of the residents of Herat who has fallen into the trap of this issue. Two armed men wave their hands to stop him in Tang Maulvi area of Herat. Thinking of a Taliban checkpoint, he stops his motorcycle. Because he knows that not stopping him will anger these people or the Taliban and they will shoot him. Speaking to the media, he said: “Two people with Kalashnikovs on their shoulders stopped in front of me. I stopped immediately. I thought the Taliban had a checkpoint like always and maybe they stopped me for inspection.” Arif’s idea, however, was not correct. Two armed robbers, with a motorcycle, made a temporary checkpoint and were looking for robbery in the name of Taliban. Aref says that after stopping, these people told him to show the documents of the motorcycle. After taking the documents, they empty his pockets and flee the area on a motorcycle. He clarifies: “I had no idea that these people were thieves. They were no different from the Taliban forces at the checkpoints. When I stopped, they first asked for the motorcycle documents. After they emptied my pockets, I protested why cellphones. And you put my money in your pocket; but as they were in a hurry, they led me to the back with weapons and as soon as I got away, they took my motorcycle and ran away. I still don’t know if they were really thieves or Talib.” In addition to these armed robberies with motorcycles, the pursuit of people by thieves and the ambush of armed thieves in some alleys and back alleys of Herat is still increasing. Seyed Ahmad is another resident of Herat, whose two mobile phones were taken away by armed robbers at the same time. At the same time, he himself has been beaten for protesting. He said that while he was going home, a motorcycle with two passengers suddenly stopped next to him. Seyed Ahmad says that at first he thought they were Taliban and patrolling for the security of this area, but these people, who were also carrying guns, took his two mobile phones and cash and left the area. However, armed robberies are not new in Herat. This practice has continued since the republic, but in recent days and months, the Taliban have repeatedly displayed the bloody corpses of people accused of theft in the city center.