6 Indians abducted by armed men in Afghanistan

PTI

New Delhi, 07 May 2018: Six Indians, working for RPG Group company KEC Inter national in Afghanistan’s northern Baghlan province, were abducted by Taliban gunmen on Sunday. According to Afghan officials, the Taliban apparently mistook them for government employees. 

 

The external affairs ministry said it was in touch with Afghan authorities to ascertain the details of the incident. 

 

MEA spokesperson said: “We are aware of the abduction of Indian nationals from Baghlan province in Afghanistan. We are in contact with the Afghan authorities and further details are being ascertained.” 

 

The armed men abducted six Indians and one Afghan employee of KEC International in Bagh-e-Shamal village of the provincial capital Pul-e-Khomre, the Afghan officials said. KEC is one of the largest Indian companies in Afghanistan responsible for electricity supply in the country. 

 

Baghlan governor Abdulhai Nemati claimed the Taliban group abducted seven employees of KEC, adding they were trying to release the abductees through tribe elders and mediation. Nemati also said his officials have spoken with the Taliban group through local people. No group has, however, claimed responsibility for the abduction. 

 

Harsh Goenka, chairman of RPG Enterprises, the parent company of KEC, said he has requested external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to help rescue the employees. “Request @SushmaSwaraj and Ministry of External Affairs to help rescue 7 of our managers from the kidnapping in Afghanistan. #KEC,” Goenka tweeted. 

 

“We are very concerned and the matter is being looked at by MEA at the highest level. In the interest of safety of our people and the sensitive nature of the situation on ground, we will not be commenting any further. We want to assure everyone concerned that we are working with the authorities to ensure safe return of our employees,” said KEC International CEO Vimal Kejriwal.