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Who was Banu Negar? Taliban militants kill pregnant policewoman in front of family

"We are aware of the incident and I am confirming that the Taliban have not killed her," Taliban's Spokesman Mujaheed said

A pregnant policewoman has been shot dead by Taliban militants in front of her husband and children in a door-to-door execution, witnesses have said. The victim's family has stated that the officer was eight months pregnant when she was killed.

Taliban militants in Afghanistan have shot dead a Banu Negar in a provincial city at the family home in front of relatives in Firozkoh, the capital of central Ghor province. The killing comes amid increasing reports of escalating repression of women in Afghanistan. The Taliban told the BBC they had no involvement in Negar's death and are investigating the incident. Spokesman Zabiullah Mujaheed said: "We are aware of the incident and I am confirming that the Taliban have not killed her, our investigation is ongoing." He added that the Taliban had already announced an amnesty for people who worked for the previous administration and put Negar's murder down to "personal enmity or something else".
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Details of the incident are still sketchy as many in Firozkoh fear retribution if they speak out. But three sources have told the BBC that the Taliban beat and shot Negar dead in front of her husband and children on Saturday, September 4.

Relatives supplied graphic images showing blood spattered on a wall in the corner of a room and a body, the face heavily disfigured. The family say Negar, who worked at the local prison, was eight months pregnant. Three gunmen arrived at the house on Saturday and searched it before tying members of the family up, relatives say. The intruders were heard speaking Arabic, a witness said.

"Negar's son has said that his mother was brutally killed by Taliban in front of kids and her brain was taken out. This is Taliban 2.0. United States and NATO let this happen," said one.

On August 15, when Taliban took power, they have sought to portray themselves as more tolerant than their global reputation suggests, but incidents of brutality and repression are still being reported in parts of Afghanistan. Human rights groups have been documenting revenge killings, detentions and persecution of religious minorities. The Taliban have said officially that they will not seek retribution against those who worked for the former government.

"No grudges, no revenge," was the Taliban message at their first press conference after they took power. But there's a growing chasm between Taliban statements and the message coming from the streets where every Talib has a gun and controls his own corner.