DUSHANBE, September 25, Asia-Plus - Six police officers have been beaten by local residents in the northern district of Ghonchi while carrying out their mission on discovering and eliminating drug-containing plants in the district.  

A source in the Sughd police department said the incident took place in Ghonchi last Sunday [September 24] during the carrying out of the “Poppy 2006” operation in the area near the village of Ovchi.   “A group of local men aged 30 to 45 attacked six officers from the Ghonchi police directorate,” said the source, “The cause of the attack is under investigation.”  The beaten officers were taken to the central district hospital in Ghonchi.

A prosecutor’s office in Ghonchi has instituted criminal proceedings to probe the incident.