One Indian and one Nepalese kidnapped by a criminal gang have been released in western Afghan province of Herat after 27 days in captivity, Indian embassy in Afghanistan said Sunday.
"We are pleased to inform that Mr. Sarang Mohammed Naeem, an Indian national, along with his Nepalese colleague, K.B. Gurung, abducted by a criminal gang on 21st April, have been released late last night (May 17, 2008)," the Indian embassy said in a statement.
They have safely reached the premises of their employer, HEB International, a logistics service company, in Adraskan district of Herat province in the early hours of Sunday morning, it said, adding that both "are in good spirits and content about their safe release."
The Indian Embassy said it is "deeply appreciative" to Afghan government "in bringing this matter successfully to close."
There has been no official word from authorities in Kabul on efforts made to facilitate the two abductees' release.
"Afghan security personnel arrested five persons with suspected links to the abductors following the kidnapping in Adraskan, which mounted pressure on the kidnappers and thus forced them to release the Indian and Nepalese," Noor Khan Nikzad, Herat's police spokesman, told Xinhua.
"The five suspects were still in the custody of security personnel," Nikzad added, rejecting suspicion about a possible personnel exchange deal between authorities and the abductors.
According to officials, the Indian and Nepalese nationals were kidnapped by armed men when they along with an Afghan driver were driving to Adraskan district on April 21. They worked with a logistics service contractor for Afghan security camps.
Abductions of foreigners by criminal gangs or insurgents are common in Afghanistan, which is still in the grip of spiraling violence after the hard-line Taliban outfit was ousted from power six and a half years ago.
A relief organization ARLDF on Feb. 27 said its employee Cyd Mizell, an American female, who was kidnapped on Jan. 26 with an Afghan driver in southern province Kandahar, has been killed.
Some 11 Pakistanis and 10 Afghans, some of whom were labors or bird-hunters, were released on Feb. 12-13, days after they were abducted by armed personnel in western province of Farah.
Source:Xinhua
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