A man suspected of involvement in the abduction of three UN workers in Afghanistan died in custody last week and authorities are investigating whether he was tortured to death, the Interior Ministry said yesterday.

Kajkoal, a resident of the Paghman Valley near Kabul suspected of involvement in several past armed robberies, was arrested two days after the abduction of the workers, ministry spokesman Lutfullah Mashal said. “He died in police custody on Monday last. The Minister of Interior has appointed a commission to investigate and find out what was behind his death – if he was beaten, or if there were some atrocities.”

Asked about local media reports in which relatives complained that Kajkoal’s body was returned to his home with fingernails missing and covered with bruises, he replied: “The commission is starting to investigate and will report back. We can’t comment until the report is finalised.” Mashal said.

Kajkoal had been suspected of involvement in the abduction of UN workers Annetta Flanigan from Northern Ireland, Kosovan Shqipe Hebibi and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan. The UN workers, who had been helping run presidential elections won by US-backed incumbent Hamid Karzai, were snatched from their car near their Kabul office and officials suspected they may have been taken to the Paghman Valley.

Demand of ransom considered

There has been confusion over who is holding the trio since the government said on Wednesday the ministry did not believe they were with a Taliban splinter group Jaish-e Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), which is demanding the freeing of Taliban prisoners in return for their release.

The militants, who have threatened to kill the hostages if their demands are not met, insist they are in their hands. They said at the weekend they hoped fresh negotiations under way would succeed, while the government said it was making gradual progress in efforts to free the hostages.

Diplomats and security sources have speculated that Jaish may have paid another group to carry out the abduction and be able to give instructions to those who are holding them. Authorities have been considering offering ransom for the three, but Jaish has said it would not accept that.

Yousuf AZIMY