Kidnapped Indian found beheaded in Afghanistan

Indian woman Manjula Narayan (C) is consoled by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Y.S.Rajashekar Reddy at her home in Hyderabad yesterday as she grieves with family members the killing of her husband in Afghanistan. The body of her husband Surya Narayan who was kidnapped by Taliban, was found in Afghanistan. PHOTO: AFP

The man and his Afghan driver were kidnapped on Friday. Taliban insurgents said on Saturday they had taken both men and vowed to kill the Indian unless New Delhi withdrew all its workers from Afghanistan within 24 hours.

"We found the body, beheaded, in a ditch by a road, about 10 km from where he was kidnapped," said Mohammad Mir, a district police chief in Zabul province.

Taliban spokesman Qari Mohammad Yousuf said by telephone Suryanarayan had been shot dead on Saturday evening while trying to escape.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the killing.