M A I N   N E W S

Kidnapped Indian engineers freed

New Delhi, December 24
Two Indian engineers kidnapped by the Taliban on December 6 in southern Afghanistan were released today and handed over by the Afghan authorities to the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

Murali and Varadayya, who were employed by a Hyderabad-based US company engaged in the construction of the Kabul-Kandahar highway in the Zabul province, were brought to Kabul and handed over to the Indian Embassy, sources in the mission said.

They were taken for medical check-up before being handed over to officials of their company, the sources said.

Earlier, Shah Mahmoud Miakhel, a close aide to Afghan Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali, said the Indians had been released and would be handed over to Indian Ambassador Vivek Katju in Kabul.

The engineers were kidnapped three weeks ago during a shopping trip in the Zabul province.

In Hyderabad, Mr B. Seenaiah, Managing Director of B Seenaiah & Co, for which Murali and Varadayya were working, said: “There were no demands made to us.”

The workers would have returned to Hyderabad today itself but the flight left before they reached Kabul, he said, adding that they would come on Sunday.

Meanwhile, India today welcomed the safe release of two Indian engineers who were kidnapped by Taliban in southern Afghanistan on December 6.

The engineers, Mr Murali and Mr Varadayya, were released today and handed over by the Afghan authorities to the Indian Embassy in Kabul. They were working on a road construction project in Zabul province of Afghanistan.

The Government of India expressed its gratitude to the Afghan authorities and others who worked tirelessly to secure the duo’s release.

KABUL: the engineers said on Wednesday that they were not mistreated and were in good health.

Interior Minister Ali Ahmad Jalali said the men were released on Tuesday and no ransom payment was made.

“Finally, the people who kidnapped them agreed to free them without conditions,’’ said Jalali. “I think these people made a good decision to free our friends.’’

“The people who kidnapped them had no relations with the leadership of the Taliban who claimed that they were responsible,’’ said, adding that “they were local people and had no relationship with them.’’

He said the government negotiated the handover through village elders and local tribal leaders. — Agencies