SHARAN, Afghanistan, Nov. 12 (Xinhua)– Unknown armed men abducted 12 civilians in the eastern Paktika province with Sharan as its capital 155 km southeast of Kabul on Wednesday and took them to unknown location, member of Provincial Council, Taj Mohammad Mangal said Thursday.

“It was evening time Wednesday that 12 civilians were going from Sayed Karam district to the provincial capital Sharan when unidentified armed people intercepted their vehicle and took them to unknown location,” Mangal told Xinhua.

He could not provide more details and police have yet to make comment.

No group or individuals have claimed responsibility for the abduction. But locals say that the Taliban militants are active in parts of the province.

The abduction coincided with Wednesday’s massive demonstration in Kabul to protest the beheading of seven civilians by their abductors in the southern Zabul province recently.