QUETTA: As many as 18 labourers working at a marble mine in the Naal area, about 40 kilometres from Khuzdar city, were kidnapped on Sunday, police said.

A large group of armed men entered the mine premises, held the labourers at gunpoint and abducted 18 of them, along with the son of a mine factory`s owner, officials said. The abductors also opened fire on a worker when he attempted to flee, they added.

The abducted labourers are locals from the Wadh and Naal areas.The mine belongs to Sardar Alam Khan Bizenjo, son of Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, the tribal chief of the Bizenjo tribe. Aslam Bizenjo is affiliated with the National Party and has served as a minister in several Balochistan governments.

While fleeing the scene, the armed men also took away a loader and two vehicles, officials said. Officials said security forces had launched a search operation in the area to trace the abducted labourers. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.-Saleem Shahid