Indian abducted in Afghanistan

VASANTHI and her children look at the television and the clock warily. The deadline set by militants who have kidnapped her husband, Simon alias Vasu, in Afghanistan is inching closer.

VASANTHI and her children look at the television and the clock warily. The deadline set by militants who have kidnapped her husband, Simon alias Vasu, in Afghanistan is inching closer. If the ransom of 50,000 isn8217;t paid in the next couple of days, the militants have threatened to kill Simon and the two Nepal nationals abducted along with him, said Vasanthi.

Simon, a 38-year-old native of Villupuram district, had gone to Afghanistan a year ago to work for Ciano International that supplies food material to the Italian contingent of the multinational force that has been deployed there.

After working in Muscat for nearly seven years, Simon wanted a job that would fetch him more than the measly sum he was earning in the Gulf country. 8220;He went to Muscat twice, working there for over three years, each time on a salary of Rs 5,000 per month. This job in Afghanistan offered him Rs 20,000 per month, which he took up 11 months ago,8221; said Vasanthi.

According to reports reaching here, Simon was kidnapped along with at least two more workers of the company, believed to be Nepal nationals, at Herath in Afghanistan on October 13.

The Indian Embassy in Kabul informed his brother, Subramaniam, who is also working in Afghanistan, about the incident the next day. Since then, Subramaniam has received three calls from the militants 8211; on November 27, December 12, and December 15. The third call asked him to arrange the ransom money within five days.

There have been unconfirmed reports that the deadline has been extended.

8220;He used to call us frequently, once in two or three days or at least one in a week. But since October second week, we did not receive any call from him. His brother informed us about the kidnapping on December 15,8221; Vasanthi said, who works as a farm labourer.

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Needless to say, the ransom demanded is beyond the means of the family. 8220;After going there, Simon once sent Rs 50,000 through a person who had come here on leave. He wanted his children, Nirmala 10 and Ajit 8, to get good education,8221; said a relative.

Tahsildar R Kannaiyyan, who met the family in Brammakundam village in Sankarapuram Taluk on Wednesday, would submit a report to the district authorities, which would in turn be forwarded to the state Government.