ID :
37341
Thu, 12/25/2008 - 12:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37341
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Taliban militants abduct Indian national in Afghanistan
New Delhi/Chennai, Dec 24 (PTI) In yet another incident
targeting Indians in Afghanistan, suspected Taliban militants
have abducted an Indian national working for an Italian
company in the war-torn country.
38-year-old Simon, who hails from Villupuram district of
Tamil Nadu, was abducted along with his Afghan interpreter and
driver in Herat province on October 13, official sources said
here Wednesday.
He was working as a cook with the Italian food store
'Fiano', which serves Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. He had
gone to the troubled country a year ago, the sources said.
Simon and the two locals were kidnapped while they were
delivering food at the International Security Assistance Force
camp in Bagram air base, they said.
Indian Embassy in Kabul and Consulate in Herat are in
constant touch with top Afghan authorities who are making
efforts to secure his safe release, they said. The Embassy is
also in touch with Simon's company.
Citing latest information, the sources said Simon was
alive but did not give more details because of fear that it
could jeopardise the safety of the hostage.
Simon did not have any security unlike other Indian
nationals who have gone there through the government, the
sources said.
"Since he had gone through a private contract with the
Italian firm, his security was the responsibility of the
company," they said.
The abductors are believed to have made a ransom demand
of USD 50,000.
Simon's wife Vasanthi appealed to the abductors to
release him, saying the family would not be able to meet the
abductors' ransom demand.
She urged the government to ensure safety of her husband.
The kidnappers allowed Simon to talk to his brother Subbu
who was also working in Kabul.
In the last three years, Simon is the third Indian to
have been abducted in Afghanistan after BRO driver M R Kutty
and K Suryanarayanan. Both of them were killed by their
abductors.
The Taliban have also carried out attacks on BRO
personnel engaged in construction of a key highway between
Delaram and Zaranj. PTI SNR
DEP
NNNN
targeting Indians in Afghanistan, suspected Taliban militants
have abducted an Indian national working for an Italian
company in the war-torn country.
38-year-old Simon, who hails from Villupuram district of
Tamil Nadu, was abducted along with his Afghan interpreter and
driver in Herat province on October 13, official sources said
here Wednesday.
He was working as a cook with the Italian food store
'Fiano', which serves Italian soldiers in Afghanistan. He had
gone to the troubled country a year ago, the sources said.
Simon and the two locals were kidnapped while they were
delivering food at the International Security Assistance Force
camp in Bagram air base, they said.
Indian Embassy in Kabul and Consulate in Herat are in
constant touch with top Afghan authorities who are making
efforts to secure his safe release, they said. The Embassy is
also in touch with Simon's company.
Citing latest information, the sources said Simon was
alive but did not give more details because of fear that it
could jeopardise the safety of the hostage.
Simon did not have any security unlike other Indian
nationals who have gone there through the government, the
sources said.
"Since he had gone through a private contract with the
Italian firm, his security was the responsibility of the
company," they said.
The abductors are believed to have made a ransom demand
of USD 50,000.
Simon's wife Vasanthi appealed to the abductors to
release him, saying the family would not be able to meet the
abductors' ransom demand.
She urged the government to ensure safety of her husband.
The kidnappers allowed Simon to talk to his brother Subbu
who was also working in Kabul.
In the last three years, Simon is the third Indian to
have been abducted in Afghanistan after BRO driver M R Kutty
and K Suryanarayanan. Both of them were killed by their
abductors.
The Taliban have also carried out attacks on BRO
personnel engaged in construction of a key highway between
Delaram and Zaranj. PTI SNR
DEP
NNNN
