JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Scores of civilian homes have been set alight by Daesh insurgents in the Kot district of the eastern Nangarhar province, an official said on Saturday.

Haji Sayed Rahman, the district’s administrative head, told Pajhwok Afghan News the militants burnt 65 civilian in Barsa Payeen on Friday afternoon.

Heavy losses had been inflicted on local residents as a result of the Islamic State assault, the district chief said.

“In the remote area, which is out of our control, residents had abandoned their homes. The fighters attacked the locality yesterday, but they faced strong resistance from us…” he added.

In retaliatory action from security forces, three attackers were killed and as many wounded, the official said, adding the assailants were forced into fleeing the area.

Haji Hayat Khan, a tribal elder and commander of a local uprising force, confirmed the attack to Pajhwok. The rebels stormed the civilian houses when residents were offering Juma prayers, he said,

More than 60 houses, located in 20 big compounds, were torched. Another elder, Malik Ahmadzai, complained security forces had not yet arrived in the area.

Meanwhile, the governor’s spokesman Attaullah Khogyani also verified the attack in Kot. However, he explained locals had vacated their houses before the attack and there was no loss of life.

Daesh guerrillas have been operating in parts of Nangarhar province, including Kot. Over the past nearly two years. The group is yet to comment on the incident.

pk/mud