Maan community leaders attempting to talk three wanted men into turning themselves in

AMMAN — Community leaders in Maan, 220 kilometres south of the capital,  are negotiating with three wanted men from the governorate to turn themselves in to the authorities to avoid any future confrontation with security personnel.

The three suspects, who are brothers, are on a list of 19 wanted suspects in Maan, 16 of whom were handed over to police by Maan tribal leaders last year.

“We are trying to convince them to turn themselves in, but no deal has been reached so far,” Maan Mayor Majid Sharari told The Jordan Times over the phone on Monday.

Sharari noted that all community leaders in Maan support this move to “put an end to this issue, and regain stability in the city”.

According to Sharari, two other brothers of the wanted suspects were killed and a third has become physically disabled as they were shot in a confrontation with security personnel last year. 

“We sympathise with them, but we want the issue to be resolved,” he said. 

Earlier this month, Maan reportedly witnessed clashes between security agencies and local inhabitants during an operation to arrest the wanted suspects.

Also this month, “outlaws”, who were classified by the authorities as “dangerous”, reportedly stole an official car and burned it in the southern city.

Specialised security forces were dispatched to deal with the “outlaws”, who started firing at the force using automatic rifles, and escaped arrest.

These incidents were among several reasons that led to changes in the top three security posts in the Kingdom, with interior minister Hussein Majali submitting his resignation and Public Security Department (PSD) director Gen. Tawfiq Tawalbeh and Gendarmerie Department director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sweilmin being referred to retirement.

Several incidents also took place in the southern governorate last year, resulting in confrontations between residents and Gendarmerie forces.

In August last year, Second Lieutenant Nart Nafesh, 23, was part of a patrol that was guarding a post in Maan, when a group of suspects opened fire with automatic weapons at 4:45am, killing him.

In a house raid to arrest an outlaw in June, 2014, a man died and his wife later succumbed to her injuries, while the wanted suspect was injured but managed to escape capture. 

Four Gendarmerie officers were also injured in the incident and others have been target of sporadic shootings and attacks.