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Operations to ensure safe release of 2 ICRC employees continue: Afghan police

Xinhua, February 9, 2017 Adjust font size:

Operations to ensure the safe release of the two employees of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) that were abducted in the northern Jawzjan province on Wednesday have been continuing, provincial police chief Rahmatullah Turkistani said Thursday.

"Our operations have been continuing and we are also in contact with the elders and chieftains to help police locate and save the two abducted employees of ICRC," Turkistani told Xinhua.

Unknown armed men abducted eight employees of ICRC in Qushtapa district of Jawzjan province on Wednesday and shot dead six of them and took two others to unknown location, according to previous reports.

However, Turkistani said that the employees were nine persons and the armed militants after executing six of them took three others along with their vehicles to unknown location but one of them who is a doctor has managed to escape.

Following the deadly incident, ICRC has reportedly suspended its operations in Afghanistan.

"We are doing our best to ensure the safe release of the remaining two abductees," Turkistani added.

Jawzjan province with Shiberghan as its capital 390 km north of Kabul has been the scene of Taliban and Islamic State groups activities over the past couple of years. Endit