DUSHANBE (Asia-Plus) — Leader of a criminal armed group has been detained in Dushanbe. He is accused of hostage taking and robberies.

According to the Interior Ministry’s press service, police have solved a number of past crimes. Leader of a criminal armed group Yoqub Ahrorzoda, who is also known under the nickname of “Jinjak”, has been detained in Dushanbe on suspicion of hostage taking and robberies. Yoqub Ahrorzoda, 45, is resident of the village of Vahdatobod, which is subordinate to Vahdat Township.

In August 1999, he jointly with resident of Roudaki district Jamshed Aboyev, nicknamed as “Ivan”, and several other persons took away Mark 2 of resident of the Yakkatol village of Vahdat Township. The same year, Ahrorzoda and members of his criminal group reportedly took resident of the Dousti village of Vahdat Township Abdusalom Najmiddinov and his brother hostage and demanded heavy truck KAMAZ in ransom for release of them.

In August 1999, they also took resident of Roudaki district Safed Ghafourov hostage and released after his relatives paid $11,000 ransom.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Yoqub Ahrorzoda under the provisions of two articles of Tajikistan’s Penal Code: Article 181 — hostage taking; and Article 249 — robbery. An investigation is under way.