KABUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan National Army (ANA) waged a special operation and freed 61 people from two Taliban prisons in the country's southern province of Helmand Thursday night, Afghan Defense Ministry said Friday.

"Acting on a confirmed tip-off, ANA commandos launched a raid against two Taliban prisons in Helmand's Kajaki district, releasing 61 people from Taliban custody," the ministry said in a statement.

Upon arrival of the troops, the insurgents engaged with the security forces and the gunfight left two insurgents dead while seven Taliban were arrested after the commandos secured the site.

The freed people and the seven arrestees were shifted to an army base after the raid, the statement added.

On July 17, 58 people, including 19 Afghan security force members, were freed in another similar operation in Helmand.

The province, 555 km south of Kabul and notorious for poppy growing, is also a known Taliban stronghold.

The Taliban has intensified armed attacks against security forces across the country since April 25 when the Taliban's yearly rebel offensive started.?