National Security Committee of Tajikistan reports about 7 wounded in Kyrgyz-Tajik border conflict

AKIPRESS.COM - The conflict between residents of border districts of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan occurred on April 28 at 4.00 p.m. near Tajik village of Hojai Alo provoked by nationals of Kyrgyzstan led by Batken district governor Akylbek Orozov, the press service of the Border Troops of the State National Security Committee of Tajikistan said.
"Seven citizens of Tajikistan were wounded as a result of the incident, who received injuries of varying severity in stone attack," the Border Troops said.
"The water distributor lies far from settlements of Kyrgyzstan. However, Kyrgyz authorities mobilize their citizens from remote settlements and provoke them for ethnic conflict," said the report.
"In accordance with the maps of 1924-1927 and 1989, the water distributor lies on the territory of Tajikistan. It was built in 1968 and is intended for irrigation of agricultural fields of border areas of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan," the Border Troops said.
"The Kyrgyz side unilaterlly occupied this facility and uses special forces personnel wearing civilian clothes against Tajik civilians," the Tajik Border Troops said.
Batken region police department said Tajik citizens opened fire into the military unit in Kok-Tash village of Batken district of Kyrgyzstan at 5.45 a.m. of April 29.
A 30-year-old resident of Kok-Tash village received eye gunshot wound in the result.
The conflict started after Tajik citizens brought the excavator and truck to the bank of the Ak-Suu river near Ak-Sai village at around 11.00 a.m. of April 28 to take gravel.