MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- At least three policemen were killed and three others wounded when militants loyal to the Taliban attacked police checkpoints in Afghanistan's northern province of Faryab, an official said Friday.

"The incident took place Thursday night in Shirin Tagab district, north of provincial capital Maimana city," Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, head of the provincial council, told Xinhua.

Rahmani confirmed the death of three police personnel and injury of three others, during the militants' offensive, which resulted in the collapse of three security checkpoints and seizure of an armored Humvee military vehicle by the insurgents.

Abdul Mateen Yourush, the provincial police spokesman, also confirmed the clash, but didn't comment about the causalities. However the provincial council head assured the security posts have been retaken by joint Afghan army and police forces operation early Friday morning.

Violence has escalated in the previously peaceful northern region over a last few years as Afghan security forces push against the militants in the south and east.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments on the report.