QUETTA: Some unidentified armed men kidnapped five coal-mine workers from Surange coal-mine field, some 35 km east of here.

The kidnapped miners were identified as Lal Muhammad, Noor Muhammad, Saleh Muhammad, Rehman Gul and Sanaullah.

They were working in the coal-mines of the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) in the Surange area of the Quetta district.

Also read: Govt officials among nine kidnapped in Balochistan

Official sources said the kidnapping incident took place on Tuesday when a group of around 30 armed men stormed the coalmines and kidnapped seven people.

Later, they set free two men who were local contractors working with the PMDC. The kidnapped men belonged to Swat.

A majority of miners working in coal-mines of Balochistan belong to Swat and Dir.

No-one claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

Security officials said that a search operation had been launched in the area to arrest kidnappers and recover the miners.

Published in Dawn January 28th, 2015

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