KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) — An Afghan provincial official says that a total of 29 border police officers have been killed after the Taliban overran two check points in southern Helmand province.

Bashir Ahmad Shakir, a provincial council member in Helmand province, said on Wednesday that the police officers were killed after a three-day battle, when reinforcements failed to arrive.

Shakir says the Taliban initially killed 21 officers and took eight hostage, but later killed the eight prisoners.

Shakir says the Nawzad district of Helmand province, where the battles took place, is a particularly volatile area that is regularly targeted by insurgents.