A number of close aides to Kandahar police chief Gen. Abdul Raziq, who lost his life in a shootout in the province on Thursday, said the attacker who gunned down the general on Thursday, had joined the provincial police unit two months ago. 

They said the attacker was appointed as a special guard for Kandahar governor Zalmai Wesa two days ahead of the attack. 

According to Raziq’s aides, the attacker breached the confined security zone close to the senior officials and foreign forces by making an excuse of giving pomegranates as a gift to the authorities.

TOLOnews reporter Sharif Amiri who visited the attack scene on Friday, said four bullets had hit the police chief.

Amiri said Raziq, Kandahar local officials and Resolute Support commander had left governor’s guest house after the meeting and went to a yard where the US forces commander got in to the helicopter and Raziq and other officials were taking pictures. At this time, the attacker entered the yard and starting shooting at Raziq.

“General Raziq was a strong man and he started working with his uncle since he was a young man,” said Agha Lalai, deputy governor for Kandahar province.

Police force members who have worked under Raziq’s command said they are shocked by the incident. 

“We have lost the one who was taking care of us,” said Safiullah, a police soldier. 

“People were happy with Raziq. He did not annoy anyone and we were never disturbed by him,” said Mohammad Aslam, a Kandahar resident.

Raziq’s assassination resulted in a delay in parliamentary elections in the province. 

Raziq’s body was laid to rest in Kandahar City on Friday. 

Provincial residents said he played a vital role in maintaining security of Kandahar and other southern provinces. 

“Kandahar residents, women and men, are disappointed, because he (Raziq) had maintained good security,” said Sayed Jan Khakrizwall, head of KandaharProvincial Council.

The Ministry of Interior Affairs said that Rahmatullah Atrafi, the security officer of Kandahar Police Headquarters, was appointed as acting police chief until the ministry appoints a new police chief for the province. 

“He (Raziq) defeated the enemy and he was a brave man,” said Atrafi.

Gen. Abdul Momin Hassankhail, head of the provincial National Directorate of Security (NDS), was also killed in the attack. 

The provincial governor, Zalmai Wesa, and the commander of Maiwand 404 police zone, were wounded in the incident. 

Among those who had been at the meeting were Gen. Austin Scott Miller, the Commander of NATO and US Forces in Afghanistan.