Militants launch attack to seize village, 5 killed
29 September, 2012
KABUL: At least five Torbat residents who took up arms against the attacking insurgents have been killed, said Reza, national army spokesman for Faryab and Jawzajan.
Groups of Taliban simultaneously attacked a village in northern Faryab province in an apparent attempt to take control of the village from government forces, local officials said.
According to unconfirmed reports, the Taliban captured Torbat village in Almar district, but government officials said it is too soon to confirm because the clash with security forces is ongoing.
The insurgents "attacked from four sides" at around 5:00AM, according to the provincial police chief Abdul Khaliq Aqsai, adding that both national and local police forces are fighting back.
Reza, Afghan National Army (ANA) spokesman in Faryab and Jawzjan, confirmed the attack said that the news of Turbat village falling to the Taliban was a rumor.
"We just know that the Taliban have taken over some of the houses of the residents and are fighting from there," he said at 3:00PM. The fighting is continuing as more ANA troops have been deployed to the area.
At least two local police have been killed and another one was wounded, Reza said, adding that the casualties among the Taliban are still unclear.
Almar district lies in the south-west of Faryab and shares its north-west border with Turkmenistan. Officials were not able to provide an estimate for the size of Torbat.
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