Afghan Taliban kill 14 Afghan policemen in an attack on security check posts

Afghan Taliban kill 14 Afghan policemen in an attack on security check posts

LASHKARGAH: Fourteen policemen have been killed in the Taliban group attack on a check-post in Lashkargah, the capital of southern Helmand province, a reliable government source said on Sunday.

Initially a clash erupted between policemen which was followed by the Taliban attack on the same check-post on Saturday night. Fourteen policemen were killed and three other injured, according to the source.

Police Chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Ghafar Sapi confirmed the incident but did not provide the details. He added the Taliban also suffered casualties in the attack.

Governor Hayatullah Hayat said 11 policemen had been killed and two others injured in the Taliban attack on two police posts in the Kala Sang area. Heavy casualties inflicted on the Taliban during the attack, he added.

Meanwhile, Emergency Hospital officials said 14 bodies of policemen had been evacuated to the hospital. 

The Taliban have not yet commented about the overnight attack. Helmand is one of the insecure provinces where six out of 12 districts were in the Taliban control. Government only has control over the district centres of remaining six districts.