Human smuggler detained; children rescued

MEHTARLAM (PAN): A dozen children were rescued and their kidnapper was detained by security officials in the eastern province of Laghman.

Security officials showed the 12 children and the alleged abductor to media representatives at the provincial intelligence office.

The children were kidnapped from Noorgram district of neighbouring Nuristan province and the kidnapper wanted to transfer them to Pakistan, officials said.

The children and their kidnapper were captured in Tirgari area on the outskirts of provincial capital, Mehtarlam, late on Saturday night. The minors were reunited with their families.

But the detainee, Obaidullah, denied abducting the children, saying he wanted to take them to a religious seminary of his brother in Pakistan.

The father of a child, Abdul Qadir, a resident of Noorgram, said Obaidullah had deceived him by saying his son would get education.

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