2 militants killed in Herat clash, kidnappings surge

HERAT CITY (PAN fighters were killed in a clash with the police in western Herat, where ransom-related kidnapping cases has surged, officials said on Sunday.

The clash erupted after a group of insurgents ambushed a police patrol in the Shindand district, police officer Raza Hakimi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

In the ensuing clash that took place in Aliabad village, two attackers were killed and one policeman injured. The wounded policeman was taken to the Shindand’s civil hospital and his condition was said to be stable.

Meanwhile, kidnappers of two workers with a marble extraction company had sought ransom. The two were seized by unknown gunmen in the Chasht district on Friday, said Hamidullah Khadim, the traders’ union head.

However, he did not reveal the amount of money demanded by the kidnappers.

Police spokesman Col. Noorkhan Nikzad said five employees of the company had been kidnapped, but three were later released.

Without providing further details, the police officer said an investigation had been launched into the kidnapping saga.

Traders say although the security situation in the province has improved, there has been a sharp increase in kidnapping incidents.

He said two children, sons of two businessmen, were kidnapped 20 days ago and there was no clue of their whereabouts.

“If such cases continue to take place, traders would wind up their businesses and move to somewhere else,” said Khadim.

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