QUETTA: Kidnappers freed eight coal miners, who had been abducted from Balochistan's resource-rich Harnai district last month, on Friday morning.

Sajjad Gul Kakar, a levies official, told Dawn.com that the kidnappers left the coal miners in nearby mountains and sped away in their vehicles.

Armed militants had picked up eight coal miners from the Shahrag area of Harnai district on Dec 25. "Miners are back and they are safe," Kakar said. He, however, declined to comment on the ransom amount paid to the kidnappers for release of the coal miners.

Coal miners had been agitating since the kidnapping and were pressing authorities to ensure the recovery of miners. "Government has completely failed to protect the poor coal miners," Bakht Nawab, the central leader of Pakistan Mines Labour Association, told Dawn.com.

He said coal miners faced multiple threats besides terrible working conditions in the coal mines of Balochistan. There was no claim of responsibility for the kidnapping.

In another incident, armed men opened fire at a passenger van in the Dukki Tehsil area of Loralai district.

Police said two passengers were killed as a result of the firing.

The attackers fled from the scene.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.