LASHKARGAH: Nineteen police personnel were killed in separate incidents inHelmand and Zabul provinces, officials said on Thursday.
Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Kosai Kholai area in Kajakidistrict last night, leaving four cops dead and two more injured, sourcesin Helmand told Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). The checkpoint fell into thecontrol of Taliban
Meanwhile, Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and theirspokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi told AIP that a fighter was killedand three more sustained injuries in the gunfight.
Some sources said five police personnel were killed and two more injured ina blast in Sangin district yesterday. The dead included a commanderToryalai, the sources added.
A member of Helmand provincial assembly said eight police personnel werefound dead at a checkpoint in Malgeer area in the limits of Grishk district.
No bullet shots were found in the bodies, the sources said. They had beenkilled with some fatal items. The attackers did not take away their weapons.
However, Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi said that theirfighters killed 15 security personnel in two attacks in Grishk.
Two infiltrated Taliban killed seven police personnel at a checkpoint inSpin Masjid area in Grishk district last night. They joined hands withTaliban after the attack. Eight police personnel were killed at acheckpoint in Nahr-e-Saraj area last night.
Read Top Stories
Security officials have not said anything in this regard so far. However, apress release issued by ANA 215 Maiwand military corps in Helmand statedthat 22 Taliban fighters were killed and four more injured during operationin Syed Muhammad, Haidarabad and Shorkeen villages in the limits of Sangindistrict.
Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi said that theirfighters captured Sewara district headquarters last night. The securityforces suffered heavy casualties in the attack, he claimed.
However, Zabul provincial governor’s spokesman Gul Islam Siyal told AIPthat Sewara was not a district headquarters rather it was an area ofShinkay district. The security forces and Taliban suffered casualties ingunfight in the area. However, accurate information could not beascertained immediately, he added.
Zabul provincial assembly chairman Atta Jan Haqbayan told AIP that sevenpolice personnel were killed and eight more injured in the gunfight inSewara area.
According to Haqbayan, Taliban captured three checkpoints. The casualtiescould rise or decrease, he added.
Taliban have not said anything about clashes in Sewara area so far. (AIP)
