Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: At least 20 de-miners have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the capital central of Logar province on Wednesday, official said.
Crime Branch Police Chief Col. Mohammad Jan Abid told Pajhwok Afghan News the 20 workers of Sterling Global Operations were kidnapped in Elyas village of Pul-i-Alam city this noon.
“The de-miners were traveling in a mini bus when unidentified armed men abducted them towards an unknown location,” he said.
Confirming the news, provincial governor spokesman, Salim Saleh, said that local tribal elders currently engaged to secure release of the abductees through mediation.
Ahmadullah, a resident of Elyas village, said the armed men kidnapped the de-miners around 10am, the source added.
“Eight masked gunmen on four motorcycles stopped the mini bus and took away all on board, I don’t know exact number of the people kidnapped,” Pajhwok Afghan News quoted him, as saying.
This is not first incident of its nature as in the past Taliban militants abducted nine de-miners of Halo Trust organization along with their vehicle in DaudKhail area in Pul-i-Alam central of Logar province.
However, these de-miners were released from the militants. Provincial officials in that time said the de-miners were released with the support of local elders without any deal with Taliban militants.
