DUSHANBE, October 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Unidentified person has shot police officer to death in Dushanbe.

The source at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) says the incident took place in the Peoples’ Friendship Park yesterday afternoon.

“Two police officers – Dustmurod Badalov and Abdurahmon Murodov – who were on a patrol in the park saw a person who was taking narcotics,” said the source, “The police officers decided to detain him and take to the police station.  However, the offender took out a pistol and shot three times into the air.  Badalov attempted to detain the offender but he managed to fire on the police officer, Badalov died on the spot.  The offender got on his green color Mercedes and escaped.”

Several cartridge cases for pistol Makarov and a wrap of substance of yellow color, probably a strong narcotic drug, were found at the scene of action, the source added.  An operation to search for the criminal is under way.