Policemen among 5 dead in Faryab clash

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Two border policemen and three insurgents, including a notorious commander, have been killed in a gun battle in northwestern Faryab province, police said on Friday.

Col. Ghayasuddin Sapi, border police commander, told Pajhwok Afghan News the slain policemen were coming back from the bazaar in Pashtunkot district when militants machine-gunned them both in an ambush.

Heavy police contingent was dispatched to the scene to chase the fleeing militants. In the ensuing battle, three rebels were killed and six others wounded, he added.

Separately, a militant commander had been killed in Balcharagh district, Sayed Masood Yaqoobi, a police official said.

He said militants stormed a police convoy in Tash Kala locality of the district. In the exchange of gun fire, rebels’ commander Abdul Sattar was killed and five other militants were wounded.

He confirmed two security forces men also suffered injuries during the fire fight.

But Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, Taliban spokesman, said two security personnel, Abdul Rehman and Salam had been killed in Khwaja Musa area and the militants took away their weapons with them.

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