Police among 24 killed in Taliban attack

Monitoring Desk

LASHKARGAH: Taliban militants ambushed and killed 24 police and illegal gunmen in southern Helmand province, sources said on Thursday.

A government source, who did not want to be named, told Pajhwok Afghan News the clash between policemen and the Taliban took place in Raig area of Maiwand district on Wednesday night.

The irresponsible gunmen and police wanted to arrest drug smugglers in Raig area, but they faced militants.

He said 24 police and unauthorized gunmen were killed, “These men have been dispatched to the site by high ranking officials in order of obtain drugs and money and distribute them among themselves.”

Without naming anyone, the source said a team had been appointed to investigate the issue.

Another source at the provincial Counternarcotics Department confided the incident to Pajhwok and said so far three bodies had been removed from the site and the remaining bodies were still lying there.

However, the provincial police headquarters said they were unaware and promised to share information soon with the media.

On the other hand, Brig Gen. Gulam Dawood Tarakhel, commander for 505 police zone, confirmed the incident.

The Taliban also confirmed the clash and their spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi said the fighters killed several security forces. He claimed the fighters also captured weapons, ammunition and some vehicles from the police.