KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban key commander Mullah Mansoor, the military operational chief of the Taliban outfit, was among 21 armed insurgents who have been killed in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province, an army spokesman in the northern region Ghulam Hazrat Karimi said Monday.

"Mullah Mansoor, the military operational chief of Taliban in Kunduz province and deputy to shadow district governor of Imam Sahib district are among 21 rebels who have been killed in crackdown against Taliban since Sunday night," Karimi told Xinhua.

About 30 more militants have been injured and the Taliban fighters have been expelled from several villages in Imam Sahib district over the past several hours, the official asserted without commenting on security forces casualties.

Meanwhile, Mahboubullah Sayedi, the governor of Imam Sahib district has confirmed that three security forces had been killed and six others injured since the clash erupted in the district late on Sunday.

However, villagers have reported killing four civilians including women and children and injuring five others due to the ongoing fighting in Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province.

Taliban militants haven't commented.