DUSHANBE, July 22, 2009, Asia-Plus -- In a report released at a press conference in Dushanbe, the Minister of Interiors Abdurahim Qahhorov said on July 22 that police recently detained a group of persons on suspicion of panning acts of terrorism.  However, the minister refrained from giving further details of the case.

In the meantime, a source at one of power-wielding structures of the country told Asia-Plus that Toyota Land Cruiser with three passengers on board was stopped at one of police posts in GBAO’s Darvoz district on July 18.

“The passengers looked suspicious and police officers decided to temporarily detain them,” said the source, “It has been established that they are activists of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and were fighting alongside the Taliban against the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan as well as against the Pakistani government forces in Waziristan.  They said that they and several other IMU militants arrived in Tajikistan on an order of the IMU leader Tohir Yuldash to commit a series of terrorist acts in the territory of Tajikistan.”

According to the source, one of the detainees is resident of Sughd’s Isfara district; the other one is resident of the Tajikobod district (Rasht Valley); while the third one is resident of the Afghan Province of Takhor though he had Tajik passport with him.

The source added that when searching an apartment that detainees rented in Khorog police officers found firearms, grenades, explosives and modern communications means.

“Police are currently carrying out operation to detain the remaining members of the terrorist group and their supporters in Tajikistan,” the source said.

In the meantime, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reported on July 21 that the GBAO police directorate says police and border guards arrested two Tajik citizens for the illegal possession of explosives.  Local police say they suspect the explosives were brought from Afghanistan and were to be transferred to illegal armed groups that are active in eastern Tajikistan.  Alimurod Oshurmamadov, who rented out an apartment to the two suspects, said the men told him they came to Badakhshan for medical treatment. But he said that when they were arrested, police found explosives, night-vision devices, and other military equipment in their room.

Tajik forces have been battling insurgent groups -- many of whom are believed to be coming across the porous Afghan border -- in the eastern part of the country for several weeks, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service said.