EFFORTS TO FREE INDIANS GATHER STEAM

Kabul, May 7: Authorities in Afghanistan are working with tribal elders to trace and free the seven Indian engineers abducted by Taliban gunmen in the restive northern Baghlan province, media reports said on Monday.

The Pajhwok Afghan News quoted provincial police spokesman Zabiullah Shuja as saying that the abductees were in good health, citing initial information.

He also said authorities were trying to find their location and rescue them.

Mr Shuja said the Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station.

They were abducted by the militants from the vicinity of Cheshma-e-Sher area on Sunday while they were going to inspect the work on the project.

The security officials in the province said efforts are underway by the Afghan forces and the government officials as well as the local tribal elders for the release of the Indian engineers.

An eyewitness, who wished anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News that he saw a number of armed men stopping a white coloured car on the Pul-i-Khumri-Mazar-iSharif highway.

The eyewitness did not know how many people were in the car, but said the militants took the Indian nationals to their mini bus-type vehicle and sped towards areas under their control. Provincial governor Abdul Nemati said the security forces and the local officials are busy tracking the missing engineers and their driver.