Kidnapped trader freed

JALALABAD (PAN): A national trader, kidnapped from the Chak Noor area of eastern Nangarhar province five days ago, has been released, an official said on Monday.

Haji Shah Mehmud had been kidnapped by an armed group on Thursday, the provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Sardar Muhammad Sultani, told a press briefing.

Without saying where the trader was released, the police chief claimed arresting a suspect. Sultani asked the interior ministry to provide uniforms to the people having arms licenses.

A resident of Achin district, he had steel warehouses, Mehmud told reporters. He was kidnapped by uniformed gunmen, the trader said. “I was taken to the Sayyaf Family area, then to Ring Road and was finally held hostage in Angoor Bagh area of Jalalabad.”

For two days, he was kept in a damaged house in the Baghlan Jadid district of Baghlan province, where the captors demanded $100000 in ransom, the trader alleged.  

According to Mehmud, he was released as a result of efforts by provincial authorities. The kidnappers snatched $1100 and 1600 Pakistani rupees from him.

mas /mud

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