Residents foil kidnapping bid in Daikundi

NEILI (PAN): Residents of a district in central Daikundi province clashed with insurgents trying to kidnap engineers working for the rural rehabilitation and development department, an official said on Sunday.

The engineers had travelled to Kajran district for a road survey when gunmen attempted to adduct them, but their move was resisted by local residents, sparking a gun-battle that resulted in the death of two persons, the deputy governor, Habibullah Radaminsh, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The gunmen were loyal to a Taliban commander, Abdullah, the official said. The dead included a local resident and a Taliban fighter, he said.

The attackers managed to feel, but police had launched a search for them, the deputy governor said.

Provincial deputy police chief, Col. Syed Baqar Murtazwi, said police reached the scene on-time and arrested one of the kidnappers.

But provincial council chief, Hussain Ali Muntaziri, said the Taliban were able to seize the engineers, but area residents chased them and got engineers released.

A resident, Pasab Bazmir, said there was a clash between residents and the insurgents. The dead insurgent was a brother of Abdullah.

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