MAIMANA (SW): Local Officials in northern Faryab province have said that the militants have taken nearly 60 civilians as hostages and have shot dead six civilians including two women.
Mohammad Taher Rahmani, Head of Provincial Council in Faryab, told Salam Watandar that it has been three days now since the intense fighting between up-rising forces and the militants are underway in Glimbaf area in Pashtoonkot district.
He said that after one of the militant commanders called Mullah Khanjar was killed along with his six men in Glimbaf area, the militants attacked the area and took nearly 60 residents including children as hostage. He further said that the Taliban launched offensives from different directions on Glimbaf area and despite the fact that the residents asked for the additional security forces, local officials did not pay any attention.
He warned that although the local up-rising forces have resisted against the militants but if the government did not send additional forces, Taliban would commit massacre in the area.
Security officials in the province, confirming the fighting between the local up-rising forces and Taliban in Pashtoonkot district, said that the fighting started on Saturday and still continues.
Abdul Karim Yourish, Spokesman for the Police Chief in the province, said that the militants have shot dead, two men, two women and have taken 25 children as hostage. He added that efforts to release the hostages are underway.
Members at the provincial council in Faryaab have said that if the local officials did not pay attention to the security situation in Glimbaf area in Pashtoonkot district, the local up-rising forces would sustain heavy casualties. The security officials in the province said that the reinforcement forces would soon be dispatched to the area from Maimana City.
Taliban are yet to comment in this regard.
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