13 rebels killed in 24-hour operation: MoI

KABUL): The Ministry of Interior said 13 insurgents were killed during joint operations by Afghan and coalition forces in six provinces in the last 24 hours.

The anti-militant operations were conducted by Afghan and foreign troops in Helmand, Zabul, Ghazni, Paktia, Herat and Farah provinces.

A ministry statement said a machine gun, two AK-47 assault rifles, along with eight magazines, 33 heavy shells, 325 bullets, 14 anti-vehicle mines, hand grenades, a vehicle and four motorbikes were also seized.

In southern Helmand, two land mine planters were killed after their concealed bomb went off in the Cestani area on the periphery of Marja district.

However, the Taliban claimed killing 10 policemen and Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers in several provinces.

Their spokesman, Qari Yosuf Ahmadi, said five policemen were killed during a clash in Zabul’s capital Qalat.

While, another Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, said five ANA soldiers were killed in the Khairkot district of Paktia, after their Ranger vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Meanwhile, governor’s spokesman Farid Ayal told Pajhwok Afghan News that 11 Taliban fighters and a local policeman were killed during a six-hour clash that erupted on Friday in Khas Uruzgan district, in southern Uruzgan province.

But, Ahmadi rejected the claim and said a police commander was among the five killed in the clash.

On the other hand, a suspect allegedly killed four members of a family was arrested in Nimroz, while a man rescued from his kidnappers in northern Kunduz.

The suspect shot dead four people, including two women, along Khashrod-Zaranj highway, before fleeing with their stolen cash and two motorbikes with his friends.

During interrogation the individual confessed to his crime and his case had been referred to the General Attorney Office.  

In another crime — a person kidnapped for ransom by unidentified gunmen was rescued on Friday during a security operation in Kunduz province.

The victim, a resident of Kabul was working for a non-government organization and was in the Imam Sahib district along with his family, said Syed Sarwar Hussaini, the provincial police spokesman.

mrh/vp      

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