Some 18,000 Helmand Police Killed by Taleban in 15 Years

Gen. Aqa Noor Kentoz, chief of Helmand police, said that some 18,000 policemen were killed in the fight against Taleban over the past 15 years in the province. Addressing a seminar on police accountability, he said that 6,000 machineguns and other police equipment were lost or destroyed during the period.  Kentoz added that families of martyred police personnel were given compensation, but in the past few years certain rights were mistakenly given to civilian organisations. He further stated that last year 70 police officials were referred to the attorney general over negligence in duty and corruption. Without naming anyone, Kentoz said that detainees were released through mediation of the provincial council and members of parliament. Meanwhile Hayatullah Hayat, governor of Helmand, said that police abandoned 112 posts and Afghan National Army (ANA) abandoned 38 posts without resistance to militants last year. More than half  of Helmand province is dominated by Taleban.