248 Taliban killed in Nangarhar last year

JALALABAD (PAN fighters were killed and another 225 wounded in eastern Nangarhar province last year.

Another 1,553 suspects were detained on different charges, Deputy Governor Mohammad Hanif Girdiwal told a news conference.

Local security officials released their annual report at the media briefing. Girdiwal said 1,216 people arrested on different charges had been referred to judicial organs.

He added the provincial police headquarters, in coordination with Kunar and Laghman police, had received more than 15 million afghanis ($303,030) in fine from those who failed to use Afghan currency.

More than 12,229 passports were distributed to residents, earning the government 190 million afs.  The report said police had seized seven tonnes of chemicals used in heroin, hashish, morphine and poppies and 4,000 litres of alcohol and 1,588 litres of acid.

In connection with the drugs, 337 suspects, including four women.

The deputy governor said 3,578 people were recruited into police, 3,283 into border police and 3,587 into the Afghan National Army (ANA) during the year that ended on March 21.

Also present on the occasion was the 3rd Border Police Brigade commander, Col. Mohammad Ayub Hussainkhel, who said they had seized a suicide vest, 12 Kalashnikovs, 42 pistols, 105 magazines, 190 anti-personnel bombs and a huge amount of explosives.

He added 98 fighters were killed and another 185 wounded in clashes with border police. Forty-two weapons were recovered from the insurgents.

Neither the deputy governor nor the border police head gave any information about the casualties suffered by security forces.

frm/ma/mud

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