Fatalities as police, residents clash with militants

CHAGHCHARAN (PAN province.

Police chief Col. Dilawar Shah Dilawar told Pajhwok Afghan News the clash involving 50 policemen and at least 150 residents was still ongoing. Police attacked the rebels after reports that they were planning to storm the district headquarters.   

Elsewhere, at least five people were injured during a gunbattle between the Hazara and Kuchi tribes in central Maidan Wardak province, the governor’s spokesman said.

Shahidullah Shahid said the clash erupted in the Kijab area between Daimirdad and Behsud districts late on Sunday. The firefight ended after Afghan soldiers reached the scene. Four Kuchis and one Hazara tribesman were injured in the clash.

Shahid linked the incident to an old dispute between the tribes, saying a delegation had been sent to the area to resolve the conflict.

But Behsud police chief Col. Darab Paikar said the clash left three people killed and two others had been missing. A mosque, four shops and 19 houses were torched during the clashes in Chashma Toghi, Dahan-i-Garmab, Garmab and Qala-i-Murad Khan areas.

mm/ma/mud

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