Kidnappers detained in raids; student rescued

JALALABAD/PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): Seven alleged kidnappers have been arrested in eastern Nangarhar and central Logar provinces and a student rescued from their captivity, officials said on Thursday.

Security personnel detained four alleged kidnappers in Nangarhar a day earlier, police chief, Brig. Gen. Fazl Ahmad Sherzad, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He did not say where the four were arrested, but added the detainees were involved in kidnapping a resident of Jalalabad, the provincial capital.

He said the gang had received $1 million from the kidnapped person’s family to set him free. The detainees were being interrogated and would be referred to the judicial organs soon, the police chief said.

In Logar, police rescued a student and detained three kidnappers during a raid in the Mohammad Agha district on Wednesday night.

Logar police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Hakim Ihsaqzai said the operation was carried out in the Ahmadzai area. Police also recovered some instruments the kidnappers used, he said.

The crime branch chief told Pajhwok Afghan News the kidnappers had been holding hostage the high school student in a house in the Mohammad Agha district.

He said the detainees, currently being grilled, might be involved in other similar cases.

Logar resident Gulab Shah said stern and serious action should be carried out against kidnap groups.

He said if the government seriously prosecuted detained kidnappers, the move could lead to a deep cut in kidnappings.

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