By Rupam Jain

(Reuters) – When the Taliban won back control of the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar last month, they set out to settle a score with an old foe.

Ajmal Omar, a prominent politician from Nangarhar who helped to drive militants out of the district in Nangarhar a year ago and attempted to discourage young Afghans joining them, was being sought by Taliban members. They set off explosives on his ancestral house.

In an attempt to find him, the Taliban members also took gold and cars.

Two relatives, 10 residents and local officials who were present at the events and an ex-Afghan intelligence officer recounted the story.

Sources show a severely damaged home and relatives with injuries that they claim were caused by Taliban beatings. Images not verified independently by Reuters.

Omar, aged 37, is now hiding. Omar, 37, declined to comment on this story due to security concerns.

Soon after the Taliban seized power on Aug. 15, the Islamist movement sought to reassure https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/evacuation-flights-resume-kabul-airport-biden-defends-us-withdrawal-2021-08-17 the international community and its former opponents by saying there would be no reprisals.

Omar’s family stated that Omar was not able to fulfill his promise.

One of Omar’s family members, who requested anonymity, said that none of them had ever imagined they would be the target of such a brutal attack. While the Taliban stated that they wouldn’t punish any person who was a part of the former regime, they actually did the exact opposite for us.

Omar’s family, local residents and his involvement in defeating the Taliban did not answer questions. Taliban spokespersons declined to respond.

A Taliban cabinet minister told Reuters that commanders across the country had raided former government officials’ homes and offices to seize weapons and armoured vehicles, but he was not aware of punishment meted out to Omar’s family.

The group’s defence minister, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, issued a rebuke https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghan-taliban-defence-minister-orders-crackdown-abuses-2021-09-24 last week over the conduct of some fighters following the Taliban’s victory. He did not go into specifics.

He said that “Miscreants” and former soldiers had joined Taliban ranks. They were accused of committing offences such as occupying government offices and ministries, and two-three reported murders.

You all know about the Afghanistan general amnesty. No mujahid can take revenge.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Taliban brutally enforced their version of Islamic law during their previous rule from 1996-2001, carrying out public stonings and amputations and banning women from work and girls from school.

Although they said that they would be respectful of rights and not chase after enemies this time, thousands fled Kabul in fear for their lives. Others are hiding.

Many social media posts shared grainy footage from mobile phones showing armed men entering houses and beating citizens in the street.

Many former military personnel, officials and other people close to the government that fell have claimed that retributions were carried out. Reuters could not verify the accounts of these individuals; others interviewed by Reuters claimed they were afraid to talk about their personal experiences.

Omar’s account is among the best so far about Taliban revenge on those who worked for the Western-backed government and in particular, who helped to eliminate the Taliban from Afghanistan.

ON THE RUN

According to residents, the Taliban have long targeted Kodi Khel, a remote village in a valley dotted with apple and lemon orchards in the mountainous east of the country.

Residents claim that the Taliban attempted to seize control over the strategically important route through Pakistan after they had been ousted in 2001. Rockets struck the nearby Sherzad District and killed the inhabitants.

Omar, a well-known local landowner, had built a 22-room villa with walls in the area.

He was the deputy head of the provincial government and spearheaded the strategic effort to expel the Taliban from the area. A number of militants, as well as some Afghan soldiers, were injured in fighting.

Residents say that Omar used to spend much of his time traveling from one village to another trying to convince youth to join the U.S.-backed forces against insurgents.

This could make it a hazardous job in a region that is a hub of Taliban activity.

In the last five years, three members of Nangarhar’s council were killed by Taliban fighters in separate attacks.

Omar, who was on his way home from a celebration of the Afghan army’s victory local, was killed by Taliban fighters last year.

Residents claimed that they were told to remain indoors when Omar was being sought by the Taliban fighters after the Taliban took over Kodi Khel on Aug. 13.

Omar was found dead in his home by Taliban militants, with the exception of some household staff.

According to locals, family members, as well as those who witnessed the explosions, cars and valuables were stolen.

Omar was at a Nangarhar provincial council crisis meeting in Jalalabad, where he and other participants were discussing ways to resist the Taliban’s advance. He soon found out about the search.

Two of his family members claim that he fled Kabul to hide.

The Taliban took Nangarhar’s province a few days after that.

According to two relatives, Omar’s residence was raided by armed Taliban militants wearing army fatigues.

His three children and five nephews were taken into custody along with a brother, five of his brothers, and gold, cash, an armored vehicle, some guns and other protection items. Since then, all the family members have been freed.

He and his relatives were hit with whips, and then thrown in a darkened room. His photos showed injuries that left his limbs severely injured and covered in blood.

He was also said to have been kept in an unoccupied room and tortured for three days. Reuters was unable to independently verify his story. Omar sees no hope for his family and himself in Afghanistan, where Taliban rule is rife.

Omar, his children, wife, four of his brothers and five sisters as well as their families, all reside in Afghanistan. They keep a low profile and maintain a low profile.

The relatives claimed that Omar, who is growing his hair and beard to escape the Taliban, has moved from one house to the next in the hope of finding a way out.