DUSHANBE/KULOB, May 27, Asia-Plus  -- The gunfire in Kulob has ceased and the law enforcement agencies have stared negotiations with Suhrob Langariyev, persuading him to surrender. 

 In the meantime, the death tall from today’s gunfire in Kulob has risen to two.  We will recall that two passersby were wounded during the gunfire.  One of them died on the way to hospital; the second one, who was in hospital also died.  They were identified as 49-year-old Anvar Avazov and 53-year-old Umed Zohirov.    

As it had been reported earlier, officers from the law enforcement agencies have launched an assault on a house of Suhrob Langariyev, the brother of one of former leaders of the pro-government Popular Front Langari Langariyev who was killed in the early 1990s, today morning, at around 9:30 a.m.  The operation, carried out by officers from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), involves armored personnel carriers.  Police personnel cordoned off the area around the house. 

The source at a MoI said that Suhrob Langariyev is suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and more than 100 kilograms of heroin are now allegedly kept in the house.  The MoI source said two brothers of Suhrob have allegedly been with him in the house.  “Suhrob Langariyev refused to surrender and the assault on his house was launched,” the source said.  He also added that two brothers of Suhrob have allegedly been with him in the house.

In the meantime, Asia-Plus got in touch with Fayzali Langariyev, one of brothers of Suhrob, by telephone and he said he is currently in Dushanbe and has nothing to do with the incident in Kulob.  Major-General Fayzali Langariyev is an official with the Ministry of Defense (MoD).     

 In the afternoon, the gunfire stopped and the law enforcement agencies are currently conducting negotiations with Suhrob Langariyev and his supporters.