[DAWN] Insurgents have killed 16 coppers in Afghanistan in the space of one day and beheaded eight of them, officials said Wednesday, as security forces prepare to guard a second-round election.Villagers in the southern province of Zabul Tuesday found the decapitated bodies of eight local coppers who were seized two weeks ago, deputy provincial governor Mohammad Jan Rassoulyar told AFP.
The coppers were snatched by turbans after an attack on their convoy.
"Their bodies were discovered in Nawbahar district and we have sent elders to bring them to Qalat (the picturesque provincial capital)," he said, adding they had their heads chopped off on Tuesday and found soon afterwards.
The deputy police chief of Zabul, Ghulam Jilani Farahi, said the coppers were first shot and then decapitated.
Talibs, who are responsible for many attacks on Afghan police, were not immediately available to comment.
Also on Tuesday at least eight coppers were killed when Taliban fighters stormed checkpoints in the northern province of Badakhshan, said Gul Mohammad Bedar, the deputy provincial governor.
"The Taliban attacked from the surrounding mountains with rockets and small arms. Eight police were killed after they ran out of ammunition," he said.
"We have sent reinforcements and ammunition to help around 40 other police who are still in Yamgan district."
Deputy provincial police chief Abdul Qadir Sayad confirmed the attack, saying 13 Taliban were also killed.
The Taliban grabbed credit and said they had taken control of the remote district.