MAIMANA - The Taliban have released 108 of the 110 passengers they had kidnapped in northern Faryab province, officials said on Sunday.
On Saturday evening, the militants seized 110 passengers from two buses on their way from Maimana to Kabul in the Mirza Qum area between Dawlatabad and Qarmaqul districts.
Police chief for Dawlatabad, Col. Niamatullah Tofan, told Pajhwok Afghan News two captives were still in Taliban’s custody.
All but two passengers had been freed by the Taliban, said the provincial police chef, Col. Syed Aqa Andarabi.
The kidnapper had beaten the passengers and took the two buses to forests in Dawlatabad district, said highway police commander Safar Raees.
One of the passengers said on condition of anonymity seven armed men had disembarked 110 people from the two vehicles. The gunmen allowed seven individuals, including women, to go.
“The armed people took 110 passengers to nearby forests, but released them after four hours,” he said. The captors asked them for ransom, but freed the passengers after seeing their identity cards.
The Taliban were searching for a man named Farooq, but did not harm anyone, he said, adding seven people without ID cards were yet to be released
“After we were released, the security personnel reached the area and clashed with the Taliban. No one was injured in the fire exchange,” the source continued.
Of the 110 passengers, six suspected people were still in their captivity and a decision on their fate will be taken on completion of investigations, said Mullah Ihsanullah, who introduced himself as a Taliban commander.
However, Andarabi explained that four of the six captives had also been released by the Taliban. (Pajhwok)