KABUL, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Militants raided a police checkpoint in the northern Afghan province of Balkh Tuesday, killing three policemen, police spokesman in the province Shir Jan Durani said.

    "The rebels raided a police checkpoint in Charbolak district today killing three police constables and made their god escape," Durani told Xinhua.

    He said police have launched operation to arrest the insurgents in the area.

    Balkh in north Afghanistan has been regarded as peaceful province.

    Taliban militants have been attempting to shift their activities from the militancy-plagued southern region to the relatively peaceful provinces in the north over the past several months.