5 killed, 9 wounded in Laghman clash

MEHTARLAM/JALALABAD (PAN): Five people were killed and nine others wounded during a clash in the eastern province of Laghman, officials said on Thursday.

The firefight between Taliban and police took place in the Parwayee area of Alingar district on Wednesday evening, district police chief, Col. Ghulam Aziz Gharanai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

National Directorate of Security (NDS) officer, Mohammad Rafiq, was killed along with two of his brothers during the clash, he said. One fighter was killed and eight others, including seven civilians, were wounded in the gun-battle.

A militant later succumbed to his wounds, said another security official, who did not want to be named.

Nine injured people, who were brought to the Laghman Civil Hospital, were in stable condition, said Public Health Director Abdul Latif Qayyumi.

An explosion occurred when they were buying goods in the Parwayee bazaar, said Stana Gul, a patient attendant. The blast was followed by gunfire that injured some shopkeepers and passersby, he added.

The incident occurred after a verbal clash between the families of Jan Agha and Haidar Pacha, resident Khan Agha said. A grenade tucked in the magazine pouch of Jan Agha, a district police official, went off during a hand-to-hand fight, causing the casualties, he added.

The dispute was triggered by Jan Agha’s claim that Haidar Pacha had provided information against him to the insurgents, tribal elder Hajji Abdullah said. Agha and his brothers ambushed Pacha and beat him up.

As residents intervened to separate the fighting men, the hand grenade exploded, killing three people and injuring eight others, he added.

Agha and his brothers — Rafiq and Basharmal — were killed in the incident. Soon after the clash, Agha’s bothers shot dead Pacha and his son Naseer.

Separately, rebel commander Mullah) soldiers in Alishang district, Col. Gharanai said.

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