DUSHANBE, September 1, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A copy of the Torah (Pentateuch) has reportedly been stolen in Dushanbe.

The source at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) told Asia-Plus today that Dushanbe resident Muhiddin Sharbatov applied to the police authorities noting that Dushanbe resident Khurshed Karimov took the copy of the Torah from him by force on August 28.

“According to Sharbatov, Karimov allegedly began stifling him in his car in order to seize the book, however, Sharbatov managed to tear himself and escape,” the source said, noting that an operation to search for Karimov is under way.