PESHAWAR, Nov 5: Islamist militants in restive Swat district said on Wednesday they had released 12 students who were kidnapped on suspicion of spying for the government.

The group, aged between 19 and 20 from the state-run Nazarabad High School in Matta area of Swat valley, was seized on Tuesday.

“These students were spying for the security forces. We released five students yesterday.

The remaining seven were released today after their parents personally assured us that these students will not indulge in spying for the security forces,” Haji Muslim Khan, a spokesman for the militants, told this news agency.

Local police chief Dilawar Bangash confirmed to AFP that the group had been kidnapped. —AFP