11-year-old shot in the head by Taliban militants

Kabul, Feb 5: An 11-year-old- Afghan boy, who was known for leading security forces into battle against Taliban, was killed by militants last week, authorities have said.

The boy, Wasil Ahmad, was known to have lead a police unit against the Taliban in a deadly 71-day siege last year.

According to reports, gunmen on bikes shot the boy in the head at a market. He was immediately taken to a local hospital from where he was shifted to a well-equipped hospital in Kandahar where he died of his injuries.

Taliban later on claimed responsibility for the killing.

Ahmad took to the battlefield after his father died fighting with the Taliban. It was his uncle who taught him how to use machine guns. Inspite of laws prohibiting the use of children in warfare, Ahmad was known to have played an active part in battles with Taliban.

Ahmad's uncle was a former Taliban fighter but later switched sides and fought for the Afghan government. Ahmad's work was appreciated by local authorities.

Ahmad had recently enrolled in a school but the school shut for winter holidays following which he was shot in the head.

OneIndia News