DUSHANBE, July 21, 2014, Asia-Plus – Resident of the Shouroobod district in the southern province of Khatlon has reportedly been taken hostage by unknown armed people from his village.

“The 20-year-old resident of the village of Oviyo in the Shouroobod district, Khoushvakht Nazriyev was taken from his village by unknown armed people on the night of July 20,” an official source at the Main Border Guard Directorate at the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) told Asia-Plus in an interview.

“Border guards and law enforcement agencies of Shouroobod are participating in a search operation for Nazriyev,” said the source.  “According to one of versions, he could be taken to the Afghan territory.”

It is to be noted that residents of border villages in the Shouroobod district are falling prey to Afghan drug dealers who are taking desperate measure to recover debts.  Afghan drug dealers are taking them from their villages and holding hostage until their families pay ransom money to clear debts.