ALALABAD Afghan security forces killed eight civilians during a night raidin Chaparhar district of eastern Nangarhar province, local residentsalleged on Saturday.
They said the incident happened in Hadyakhelo locality on Friday night. Theresidents have brought the corpses to the district centre to protest thedeaths.
Governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed security forces hadconducted an operation in Hadyakhelo and Manokhelo localities last night,which also resulted in casualties.
He said an investigation had been launched to identify who were the deadand injured.
District Chief Malem Mashuq also confirmed the night raid which he said hadresulted in casualties but added it would be premature to say how manycivilians and militants had been killed.
However, Malak Muhkam Khan, head of the local development council, said thedead and injured were civilians. Residents carried the bodies to thedistrict centre to protest the incident, he added.
The protestors had warned of blocking the Jalalabad-Kabullink> highway if authorities didnot respond to their protest.