KHUJAND, June 30, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The detained chief of the cell of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in Sughd’s Isfara district, Anvar Qayumov, has reportedly been involved in the attempt to kill ex-member of the Sughd regional legislature (Majlis) and former director of the Isfara chemical plant Nizom Jourayev.

According to the Sughd police directorate, investigation into case of Anvar Qayumov, who was detained last January, has established that Qayumov was involved in the attempt to kill Nizom Jourayev.

“Qayumov ordered his supporters Abdurahim Umarov, Anvar Boboyev, Qudratullo Nematulloyev, and Khursand Zokirov to kill Jourayev,” the source said.

We will recall that late on September 27, 2006, a group of gunmen attacked a car carrying Isfara Deputy Mayor Sodiq Rustamov, the director of the Isfara chemical plant, Nizom Jourayev, and the director of the Isfara canning plant, Sodir Ubaidulloyev.  The incident took place on the 7th kilometer of the road from Vorukh to Isfara, near the Dostuk Qarabagh village, a Kyrgyz enclave surrounded by the Isfara district, when the officials were returning from Vorukh, a Tajik enclave in Kyrgyz territory, in Jourayev’s Nissan.  The assailants fired at the Nissan from another car and escaped.  The officials were wounded and taken to the hospital.

According to the Sughd police directorate, in 1997, after having taken special training, Anvar Qayumov was sent to Isfara to recruit residents of Sughd province to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.  Qayumov had reportedly headed IMU’s cell in Isfara.  Qayumov was detained on January 16, 2009 and charges of organization of criminal grouping and terrorism were officially brought against him.  An investigation is under way.