A 50-year-old Afghanistan-origin Indian national, identified as Bansri Lal Arendeh, was abducted at gunpoint in Kabul, Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of Indian World Forum said.

"I have informed about the same to the Ministry of External Affairs and requested their immediate intervention and assistance in this regard," Puneet Singh Chandhok said.

According to Puneet Singh Chandhok, who spoke to people in Kabul, Bansri Lal was picked up by armed gunmen at around 8 am from the vicinity of his shop.

Puneet Singh Chandhok said, "I have been informed by the Afghan-Hindu Sikh community that Bansri Lal Arendeh was abducted yesterday around 8 am from the vicinity of his shop. He is into the business of pharmaceutical products and was going about his usual routine along with his staff in the shop before the abduction."

"He is into the business of pharmaceutical products and was on his usual routine to the shop along with his staff. He, along with his staff, was abducted, but his staff managed to escape. They were mercilessly beaten by the abductors. This incident happened in the 11th Police district of Kabul," Puneet Singh Chandhok said.

Bansri Lal Arendeh's family lives in Delhi -NCR. The local community is following up with the concerned officials and a case has also been registered with local investigation agencies and various search operations were launched by his friends during the day to locate him.

A complaint has been filed with the authorities and probe has been ordered. India Today TV accessed a copy of the complaint which read: "Today morning at 8:20 in morning is been abducted while going to his office. His car was hit from back side after that he was been taken on gunpoint and took him along themselves in green colour Toyota Corolla".

The Ministry of External Affairs in India has been informed of the incident and immediate intervention and assistance has been requested.

Meanwhile, the intelligence department of Afghanistan under the Taliban has taken over the case and is currently investigating the same. The local community members met the local officials on Wednesday but the identity and motive of his abductors has not been established yet.

Last month there were reports that over 150 Indian citizens had been abducted by the Taliban from outside the gates of Kabul airport, while they were waiting to board evacuation flights.

The government later confirmed they had only been taken to a nearby police station for routine questioning and checking of travel documents before boarding their flight.

 All members of that group were eventually flown back to India.

The government has said an unknown number of Indians remain in Kabul and other parts of the war-torn country, and that it is monitoring the situation "very carefully". At an all-party meet held on August 26, it told 31 opposition parties its priority is the evacuation of all Indians from Afghanistan

Last month, government sources told PTI that over 800 had been flown out on special commercial and Air Force planes amid a fast-deteriorating security situation.

An estimated 15,000 have sought help in fleeing Afghanistan, the government added.

Image source: Zee news