DUSHANBE, February 21, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- A search operation for an armed militant is going on in the village of Kulkent in the northern district of Isfara, a source at one of power wielding structures of Tajikistan told Asia-Plus today.

“22-year-old Amriddin Azizov from Kulkent, who works as barber, and his client saw unknown suspect person in an empty house (holder of this house is currently in Russia) in the village on February 19.  Azizov called his father and when he came they tried to detain the suspect stranger but he managed to escape, threatening them with a hand grenade,” said the source, “An assault rifle Kalashnikov, more than 30 bullets for it and other ammunition were extracted from a knapsack the stranger left in the house.”

A search operation for this armed militant is going on and it cannot be ruled out that he has accomplices in this village, the source said.  It is supposed that he is militant of the banned Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), he added.

In the meantime, one of residents of the Kulkent village says the unknown militant proved to be resident of the neighboring village of Muldon, who has been wanted by police for already several years.  “Witnesses say an assault rifle Kalashnikov, Makarov pistol, three mobile phones and manual on making explosive devices were extracted from the knapsack he left in the house,” the Kulkent resident said.

The law enforcement authorities refrained from disclosing the alleged militant name in the interest of investigation. 

It is to be noted that Isfara district is considered one of the most religious conservative pockets of Tajikistan.