Three Taliban members held in Indian aid worker’s abduction
7 Jun 2014 5:11 AM IST
Three Taliban members have been arrested by Afghan security forces in connection with the abduction of Indian aid worker Alexis Prem Kumar in the Herat Province four days ago, Afghan Interior Ministry said on Thursday. Three of the Taliban members linked with the abduction of 47-year-old Kumar have been arrested and investigated for more information about the hideouts of the victim, Sediq Sediqqi, Spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Ministry said.
However, he did not divulge more details and only said that police in Herat is doing their best to make sure the safe release of Kumar. Meanwhile, Indian government is in constant touch at all levels of the Afghan government and local authorities regarding the case, officials said.
The Spokesperson in External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi has already denied that Kumar had any connection with the Indian government amidst local reports here that the aid worker was associated with the Indian mission. ‘He is an Indian national who was working with an NGO. He had no connection with the Indian Government or Mission or Consulate,’ the spokesperson said. A native of Tamil Nadu, Kumar was working with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), an educational charity, as its Afghanistan Director and has been in the war-torn country for over three years. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction. Before moving to Afghanistan, Kumar had worked for the JRS, serving Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.
Kumar had accompanied teachers on a visit to a JRS-supported school for the returnee refugees in Sohadat village, 25 km from the city of Herat. He was kidnapped from the school as he was about to return to Herat, the JRS said.
However, he did not divulge more details and only said that police in Herat is doing their best to make sure the safe release of Kumar. Meanwhile, Indian government is in constant touch at all levels of the Afghan government and local authorities regarding the case, officials said.
The Spokesperson in External Affairs Ministry in New Delhi has already denied that Kumar had any connection with the Indian government amidst local reports here that the aid worker was associated with the Indian mission. ‘He is an Indian national who was working with an NGO. He had no connection with the Indian Government or Mission or Consulate,’ the spokesperson said. A native of Tamil Nadu, Kumar was working with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), an educational charity, as its Afghanistan Director and has been in the war-torn country for over three years. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction. Before moving to Afghanistan, Kumar had worked for the JRS, serving Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu.
Kumar had accompanied teachers on a visit to a JRS-supported school for the returnee refugees in Sohadat village, 25 km from the city of Herat. He was kidnapped from the school as he was about to return to Herat, the JRS said.
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