Afghan forces rescue 30 from Taliban-run prison
Taliban
The Afghan special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued over 30 people, including children, and two policemen
The Afghan special forces raided a Taliban prison in southern Helmand province on Sunday and rescued over 30 people, including children, and two policemen.
At least four children under the age of 12 were also among those rescued.
The prisoners were rescued during an operation in the early hours of Sunday morning, Khaama Pressquoting Afghan military officials as saying.
A local official has stated that the prisonerswere arrested on charges of supporting the government or theywere family members of the Afghan army and police.
The Taliban has claimed that the rescued people were criminals of robbery, kidnapping, personal disputes and other crimes and they were awaiting trial.
The reason for the arrest is still being investigated, Reuters quoted Abdul Qadir Bahadurzai, a deputy spokesman for the army’s 215th Maiwand military corps as saying.
Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) also rescued at least eleven people from a Taliban prison in Helmand province in May.
(With inputs from news agencies)