RASC News Agency: Local sources in Samangan confirm that the Taliban are confiscating properties in the Tor Bazaar area of Dara-e-Suf Bala district, a historically Hazara-dominated region. On Sunday, December 22, sources revealed that this bazaar, with over a century of history, hosts hundreds of shops and dozens of residential homes constructed by the local population. According to reports, the Taliban have ordered shopkeepers and homeowners to vacate their properties by March 2024, surrendering them to the group.
Residents argue that they have inhabited and worked in this area for generations, primarily relying on trade and commerce for their livelihoods. One resident emphasized that the shops and more than 100 residential homes in the bazaar have been bought and sold using traditional and legally recognized deeds. Another source disclosed that nearly 350 shops in Tor Bazaar, located near the coal mines of Dara-e-Suf, generate monthly rents ranging from 2,000 to 6,000 kabuli rupees. The Taliban have reportedly leased the entire market to two local individuals for a collective monthly rent of 850,000 kabuli rupees.
A local resident accused the Taliban of ethnic discrimination, claiming the confiscation of the bazaar was driven by hostility toward the Hazara community. In recent months, the Taliban have increasingly confiscated properties across various regions, justifying their actions by labeling these areas as government-owned land. Similar incidents have occurred in Shahr-e-Naw in Kabul, Khairkhana, and Mazar-e-Sharif, where residents presented valid ownership documents and legal deeds to challenge the seizures.
These developments have alarmed affected communities, who view the Taliban’s actions as systematic efforts to undermine property rights and target minority groups, further exacerbating tensions in the region.
