Maimana school burnt as forces clash with Taliban

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): The building of Captain Secondary School in Maimana, the capital of northern Faryab province, was burned down during a clash between government forces and Taliban militants on Tuesday.

Faryab Education director IzzatullahKhushbin told Pajhwok Afghan News the Captain Boys public secondary school in sixth police district of Maimana city was burned as a result of a clash between Taliban and government security personnel on Tuesday morning and that a student had also been injured.

He added that the security personnel attacked the rebels after they entered the school and that caused a fire which students tried to extinguish.

Khushbin said the school had 16 classes and 1,050 students.

Cultural affairs expert, WahidullahMubariz said the school was built at a cost of $500,000 with modern infrastructure but it was totally burned down.

But police spokesman, AbdulKarimYorish said the Taliban put the school on fire after their two fighters got killed and they sought revenge by burning down the school.

Pajhwok tried to have photos and video of the school but failed due to ongoing battle in the area.

But a local member of Taliban said the security forces fired artillery at the school and Taliban could not visit the site because there was a security post near the school.

The Taliban have captured seven districts of Faryab province in the past two weeks and they have reached first, sixth and ninth police districts of Maimana city.

hr/ma