Conversion to Christianity is why Taliban kidnapped my husband: Wife

A ransom of Rs. 15 million has been demanded by the Taliban to obtain the release of P. Simon, a Chennai resident who was kidnapped in Afghanistan two months ago.

Simon's wife Vasanthi says, his conversion to Christianity might be a cause why he is being kidnapped or still under the custody of Islamic militants.

"My husband was taken to Afghanistan by his elder brother P.G. Subramanian, who was working there already, in January this year as a cook to serve Italian soldiers. Perhaps he was kidnapped because he is a born-again Christian in that (predominantly Islamic) nation," Vasanthi said.

"Neither his employers nor the Indian mission in that country seem to be seriously doing anything for Simon's release," Vasanthi added.

38-year-old Simon was abducted along with his Afghan interpreter and driver in Herat province on October 13, official sources said.

The kidnappers allowed Simon to talk to his brother over phone when they called him on December 12.

"Simon told me that they were torturing him day and night and were keeping him in an open, chilly area, blindfolded and with his hands tied. He pleaded with me to rescue him at the earliest," said Subramanian.

Indian Embassy in Kabul and Consulate in Herat are in constant touch with Afghan authorities in securing his release.