Uruzgan: 28 policemen killed in Taliban attack

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): At least 28 security personnel have been killed in a Taliban raid in central Uruzgan province, say local officials.

The insurgents besieged Afghan National Police (ANP) and local police members in Gizab district, the governor’s spokesman said late on Wednesday.

Zargai Ebadi said the rebels assured the policemen they would be set free if they surrendered. But the security personnel were killed despite laying down arms.

On the other hand, the Taliban scorned the gubernatorial spokesman’s claim, saying the policemen were killed during a gunbattle in Gizab.  

Qari Mohammad Yousuf Ahmadi, the group’s spokesman, said the fighters killed the police personnel after they refused to surrender.

Ebadi said the security forces had taken back control of of the checkpoints they had abandoned in the wake of waive of militant attacks in recent days.

Confirming the police fatalities, Provincial Council Chairman Amir Mohammad Barakzai said intense firefights were ongoing in the district.

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