PM Modi writes to Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa about Prem Kumar, kidnapped in Afghanistan

In a letter to  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J  Jayalalithaa, the Prime Minister of India has assured her  that "the government will spare no effort" to ensure the earliest release of Alexis Prem Kumar who was kidnapped in Afghanistan more than 10 days ago.

Informing her that his top officials are in touch with their counterparts in Kabul, the Prime Minister says, "Our primary concern at this stage is to ensure the integrity of the ongoing efforts for Prem Kumar's release and to ensure that he does not come to harm."

Three Taliban members had been reportedly arrested by Afghan security forces in connection with the abduction of the Indian citizen Prem Kumar, Afghan Interior Ministry said a week ago. Three of the Taliban members linked with the abduction of 47-year-old Kumar who had been arrested were investigated for more information about the hideouts of the victim, Sediq Sediqqi, Spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Ministry had said. However, he did not divulge more details and only said that police in Herat is doing their best to make sure the safe release of Kumar.

The 47-year- old aid worker was kidnapped earlier this month; three Taliban members have been arrested, but no group has claimed responsibility for the case. Last week, the Indian government said Afghanistan claims to have uncovered "concrete leads" in the case. Kumar was working with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), an educational charity, as its Afghanistan Director and had been living in the war-torn country for over three years.

He had accompanied teachers on a visit to a school near Herat in Afghanistan when he was kidnapped. His abduction took place 10 days after the attack on the Indian consulate in Herat by four heavily-armed gunmen carrying rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns.

(Source: NDTV)