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1st Ld Writethru: Taliban overrun district in S. Afghan province

Xinhua, October 3, 2016 Adjust font size:

Following months of besieging, the Taliban militants launched massive offensive and overrun Nawa district in the southern Helmand province on Monday, a lawmaker Wadood Popal said.

"The Taliban rebels launched massive offensive early Monday on Nawa district and captured it," Popal told reporters here.

Police chief of Nawa district, Ahmadshah Salem was also killed in the fighting for control of the district, the official added.

This is the second time that Nawa district has been changed hand over the past one month. Taliban militants captured Nawa in early August but the government forces recaptured it on Aug. 11.

Neither Taliban nor local officials have made comment on the situation.

However, locals in Helmand's provincial capital calling on government to send reinforcement in Nawa district and dislodge militants from the area.

The poppy growing Helmand province has been the scene of Taliban-led increasing insurgency over the past couple of years. Endit