Hundreds surround and kidnap 45 soldiers in rebel-influenced area of Colombia, army says

The army said the soldiers were seized in Cauca’s Micay Canyon, a coca-growing region controlled by a FARC dissident faction.

According to the army, about 600 people encircled the unit, preventing its deployment and leading to what officials described as a “kidnapping.” (Wikimedia Commons photo/ Representational)

Hundreds of people surrounded and abducted 45 soldiers in southwest Colombia on Sunday, according to the country’s army. The troops had been deployed to implement government programmes aimed at replacing illicit crops in a region heavily influenced by rebel groups.

In a press release, the army said the soldiers were taken in the Micay Canyon area of Cauca, a territory known for coca cultivation and now controlled by a dissident faction of the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The faction has been carrying out repeated attacks on military positions, the statement added.

According to the army, about 600 people encircled the unit, preventing its deployment and leading to what officials described as a “kidnapping.”

Story continues below this ad

Second case in a month

This marks the second incident in recent weeks involving the capture of soldiers.

In August, 33 troops were detained in Guaviare after a clash that left 10 members of a FARC holdout group dead. At the time, the army said villagers, held the soldiers while demanding the return of a slain fighter’s body. The troops were released four days later.

Colombia continues to face instability in rural regions where drug gangs and armed groups compete for territory once held by the FARC, which signed a peace accord with the government in 2016.

(With inputs from AP)

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Nepal Army chief steps in, ex-Chief Justice agrees to be interim head

World6 hr ago

General Ashok Raj Sigdel successfully convinced former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to become the interim Chief Executive after violent protests led to the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government. He held talks with various groups and proposed an interim government to restore peace. Karki, with the support of the Nepal Army, will work towards delivering a new Constitution.

View all shorts

Live Blog