3 Indians killed in Taliban attack from Andhra, Bengal

The Indian government is helping to repatriate the bodies of three Indians, two from Andhra Pradesh and one from West Bengal, who were among the 10 people killed in a Taliban suicide attack on Tuesday in Afghanistan, an official said on Wednesday.

The three victims were working at a complex that housed a firm contracted to supply goods to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) forces when the Taliban attack took place. Besides blasting a suicide bomb in a large truck, two or three terrorists fought the guards for about 30-40 minutes.

Of the three Indians, Gurudi Naveen Kumar and Gilaji Sandeep were from Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh and Kaushik Chakrabarty, who worked as a laundry manager, was from West Bengal. While Kumar, who worked as a waiter, hailed from Perikit village of Armoor sub-division, Sandeep, who managed the front office, was a native of Velpur village of Balkonda mandal.

Nizamabad police said the three victims were among more than 50 Indians who were working there through a contractor.

Naveen’s family was in a state of shock. “Naveen used to live in his grandmother’s house. He worked in Kabul for almost a year. He returned home and went back to Kabul three months ago only to die in the hands of Taliban,” Naveen’s uncle said.

“India's mission is providing all assistance in completion of legal formalities for repatriation of bodies of the three Indians killed in Kabul attack,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said. However, the kin of Sandeep said that so far there is no information regarding airlifting of the bodies.

The Taliban truck bomb and gun attack killed at least 10 people. The entrance to the compound was also destroyed in the assault.Besides supplying food, water, fuel and other commodities to the Nato bases, the company also maintains military storage buildings and accommodation.

Its compound is close to UN offices and several Nato bases. Among the others killed were a Scottish security contractor, four Nepali guards and two Afghan drivers.