LASHKARGAH(SW):Officials in Helmand province have said that 65 security personnel from a security check point in Sangin district have joined the militants.
Mirza Khan Rahimi, Governor of Helmand calling the incident a ‘betrayal’ said that he would soon send a delegation to the district to probe into the incident.
According to Rahimi, these men joined Taliban despite the improving security situation in Sangin.
He also said that the security forces were trying to prevent the district from falling to the rebels and take back control of the areas that were previously under Taliban’s rule.
The governor said that 88 security personnel and 4 civilians have been killed in Lashkargah city and Baba Je and Marja districts due to Taliban’s offensives in past 24 days.
Touching upon fighting in Marja district, he said that a number of security forces in the district neglected the directions given to them that has prolonged the fighting in Marja.
Shah Mahmmud Ashna, spokesman for Helmand Police Chief, told SalamWatandar that as a result of security forces’ operation recently, nearly 40 militants were killed and 3 more were injured.
He said that the air and infantry operations were underway in Marja and many parts of the district have been cleared of the enemy.
He added that the Taliban attacked security checkpoints in Mosa Qala district last night as a result of which 3 militants were killed and 3 more were injured. He further said that no casualties were inflicted on the security forces.
ENDS
