LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Helmand provincial council members and civil society activists on Saturday alleged high government officials were involved in abductions and preventing police from arresting kidnappers.
Farhad Dawari, head of civil society coordination body, told a press conference security forces had arrested several kidnappers in the recent past but some government officials got them freed.
Without naming the government officials who supported the kidnappers, he said at least 11 kidnappers had been arrested last week. “Amid security fears, parents avoid sending their children to school. Therefore, the government should take serious action to trace the kidnappers and arrest them.”
Bashir Ahmad Shakir, provincial council member, confirmed the involvement of several high government officials in abduction. He also stopped short of naming anyone. “We are trying to bring the kidnappers to justice,” he said. 
Maj. Qand Agha, counter-terrorism police head, promised they would do their best to arrest the kidnappers and bring them to justice. Police often apprehended kidnappers but judicial organs rarely punished them, he complained.
Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Wali Mohammad Jan Rasulyar said the National Directorate of Security personnel apprehended a nine-member group of kidnappers today. The detainees have confessed to their crimes.
shah/mud