Kyrgyz border guards have reportedly fired at a group of Tajik villagers protesting Kyrgyz plans to build a highway and a bridge in a disputed area, wounding four of them.
Local residents told RFE/RL’s Tajik Service that the incident took place in the Tajik district of Bobojon Gafurov on August 25.
One of the four wounded protesters was said to be in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Interfax news agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards exchanged fire in the neighboring Kyrgyz district of Leilek in Batken region.
Kyrgyzstan's border service said the shooting erupted after Tajik border guards attempted to set up a border post in unmarked territory located at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border.
There were no casualties reported in this incident.
Previous shooting incidents along the border left several Kyrgyz and Tajik border guards injured.
With reporting by Interfax
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RFE/RL's Tajik Service
RFE/RL's Tajik Service attracts a young, influential audience with its timely, locally focused reporting. The government's continued vigor in controlling politics and media has lent further impetus to Radio Ozodi's trusted coverage.
