DUSHANBE, May 7, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Traffic police officer, Ravshan Sharipov, 25, died at the National Medical Center in Dushanbe on May 5 several days after he was beaten by two young men while being on duty.

The National Medical Center head physician told Asia-Plus on May 6 that Ravshan Sharipov was brought to the hospital in critical condition.  “He suffered severe blows to the head that caused hemorrhage of the brain,” the head physician said.

We will recall that Ravshan Sharipov was hospitalized on April 28 after being beaten by two young men.  The incident took place at the crossroads of the Nemat Qaraboyev and Shestopalov streets in Dushanbe.  Traffic police officers Tolibjon Qodirov and Ravshan Sharipov reportedly stopped Mercedes (number plate 9889 RT 01) that drove through red light.  “The driver Saidmukhtor Mirjonov, 30, and his passenger Ozod Odinayev, 26, severely beat Sharipov, who sustained serious wounds and was taken to the hospital,” the source at the Interior Ministry said.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Mirjonov and Odinayev; an investigation is under way.