Afghan policeman kills 9 colleagues, joins Taliban

Kabul, Mar 31: An Afghan policeman today shot dead nine of his colleagues, including his brother, as they slept and fled with their weapons in a truck to join Taliban ranks in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, police said. “The incident happened while the shooter was guarding the check point and all other policemen were sleeping,” said Paktika provincial police chief Gen Dawlat Khan Zadran. The shooter, identified as Asadullah, was in contact with the insurgents in Yahyakhail district in Paktika province and targeted the other fellows as part of a plan, he said. After killings, he gathered all weapons in a police truck and run away from the area to an unknown location. “Among the policemen who have been shot, one of them is shooter’s bother,” said Zadran, adding the commander of the check point with two of his sons and five others were among the dead. Mokhlis Afghan, spokesman for the governor of Paktika province, said that two other brothers — both policemen — of Asadullah have been arrested for questioning. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. In a text message to the media, Mujahid said: “Last night, one of our fighters attacked on a security check post, as a result of his attack nine local policemen were killed.” The fighter was able to escape and join the other Taliban ranks in the area, Mujahid said. Meanwhile, two NATO soldiers were killed in southern Afghanistan. In a statement, International forces said one of their soldiers died in a roadside bomb explosion today and the other one in an insurgent attack that took place last night in southern part of the country. The statement did not identify the nationality of the soldiers. –PTI