SARIPUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) — Unknown armed men laid ambush and killed a shadowy judge of Taliban militants in the northern Saripul province on Sunday night, a local official said Monday.

“Taliban shadowy judge Mawlawi Ajmal was ambushed and killed in Sozma Qala district last night when he was going to somewhere,” deputy to provincial council, Sayed Assadullah Danesh told reporters here.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Saripul and adjoining Jauzjan province have yet to make comment.

Since confirmation of the death of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in late July and his replacement by Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor, the hardliner group has faced fraction and sometimes supporters and opponents of Mullah Mansoor fight each other’s in areas controlled by militants.