Roundup: Violent incidents claim 12 lives in N. Afghanistan

Military operations and violent incidents have claimed the lives of 12 people including a female teacher and 11 militants in the northern region of the militancy-plagued Afghanistan on Thursday, officials said.

In the latest bloody incident, unknown armed men targeted a female teacher in the northern Saripul province, killing her on the spot, provincial government spokesman, Zabihullah Amani confirmed in talks with media.

"A female teacher, Alia was on way to her home in Sangcharak district on Thursday afternoon when unidentified armed men sprayed bullet, killing her on the spot," Amani told Xinhua.

The official, however, didn't rule out Taliban involvement in the incident, saying the armed insurgents conduct subversive activities to terrorize the people.

Earlier in the day, a gun battle between government forces and the Taliban outfit in Ashkamish district of the northern Takhar province claimed the lives of five armed militants, police spokesman in the province, Abdul Khalil Asir said.

"A group of Taliban rebels in far-flanged villages of Ashkamish district were attempting to disturb the lives of villagers when police launched operations Thursday morning, killing five armed rebels and injured three others," Asir told Xinhua.

Similarly, six Taliban militants, including a group commander, have been killed outside Kunduz provincial capital the Kunduz city on Thursday, an army spokesman in the province, Nasrullah Jamshidi said.

"The operations which covered some villages including Serahi Hajji Alam in the outskirt of provincial capital Kunduz city claimed the lives of six Taliban rebels including group commander Qari Aryub early Thursday, and injured three others," Jamshidi told Xinhua.

There were no casualties on security personnel, the official said.

Taliban militants who have been challenging the government authority and fighting the security forces in parts of the country are yet to make comment. Endit