By DPA
Tehran : A group of Iranians abducted in the south-eastern region of the country and taken to neighbouring Pakistan have been released, an Iranian police spokesman said on state television Monday.
An unidentified criminal gang had Sunday taken at least 30 people hostage in the Iranian province of Sistan-Beluchistan and slipped with the captives into Pakistan.
The Pakistani police helped in the release of the hostages and their return to Iran, the spokesman said without giving further details.
The gang Sunday had blocked the road leading to the provincial city Chabahar and abducted the 30, mainly from a passing bus. Local police surrounded the area.
State television quoted security officials as identifying the hostage-takers as “terrorists” belonging to well-known networks.
Gangs operating in the area, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, are usually involved in drug trafficking, using kidnappings to force the release of imprisoned members.
A Belgian couple were last week abducted by a criminal band led by Ismael Shahbakhsh, who in return for their safe release demanded the release of his brother from a local prison.
The woman tourist was released but the husband is in captivity.
In 2003, two Germans and an Irish citizen were abducted by bandits during a cycling trip near Zahedan, and were released after a month. It was unclear whether a ransom was paid.