Families who fled their homes in Mirza Olan village in Saydad district and moved to the center of Sar-e-Pul province on Monday urged government for justice against their attackers.

The villagers said attackers who were holding white and black flags opened fire on civilians in Mirza Olan.

Fatima, the mother of a child, said the insurgents had shot her husband dead in Mirza Olan village and they barely managed to reach the Sar-e-Pul center.

“I took my sons and daughters and fled of our house. My husband was killed and his body remains in the desert,” said Fatima.

“They had blocked peoples’ passage and killed them. 51 people have been killed and the number is on the rise,” said Ibrahim, another war-displaced person.

Jafar, who along with one of his sons, also came to Sar-e-Pul center says that a number of their family members have been shot to death.

“Five people have been killed from my family, including my brother who had come to see his parents,” said Jafar, a war-displaced person.

“One of sons has disappeared and don’t know where he is,” said Mohammad, another war victim.

“My daughter is in captivity, her father has been killed,” said Bibi Hava, another war-displaced.

Meanwhile, Sar-e-Pul governor, Mohammad Zahir Wahdat said 300 families have been displaced from Sayyad district and dozens of others are held captive.

“Killings are ongoing in Mirza Olang and the people are held hostage. Currently more than 150 families are held captive,” said Wahdat.

The families said they have been subjected to sever oppression and that government must bring in to justice those responsible for the civilian killings.

No group has claimed the responsibility of civilian killings in Mirza Olang village. Taliban in a statement has rejected civilian killings.

Meanwhile, the United States embassy in a statement condemned the killings in Sar-e-Pul province in which a number of civilians and Afghan Local police force members were killed.

“The U.S embassy in Kabul strongly condemns the reported August 5 killing of dozens of civilians and Afghan Local Police forces in the Sayyad district of Sar-e-Pul province,” read the statement.

The embassy said the insurgents, by killing of innocent villagers, prove that these “terrorist groups are a force of evil in Afghanistan”.

The embassy added they empathize with the victims’ families of the oppression and believe Afghanistan deserves peace and security.

“We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims of these inhumane and cowardly acts,” the statement read.