Simon’s body on its way to India

Afghan authorities have recovered Indian cook P Simon’s body from the jungles of Herat and the body is being sent to India, where it will reach late on Thursday.

Simon, alias P Vasu of Brahmakondam in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, worked as a cook for Ciano International in Afghanistan and was abducted in October. His abductors killed him on February 8 even as efforts were on to arrange for $50,000 in ransom. The abductors had initially sought $150,000.

An official from Ciano International is accompanying Simon’s body to Chennai. “I got a call from the Indian embassy in Afghanistan stating that Simon’s body had been recovered. A Ciano official confirmed it was Simon’s. The post-mortem found bullets in his stomach,” Simon’s elder brother PG Subramanian told DNA.

“Indian officials have arranged to send the body to Chennai from where I will collect it. The district collector has arranged to take the body to our home town,” Subramanian, who worked for Ciano’s supermarket in Kabul, said.

Following his brother’s death, Subramanian wound up his activities in Afghanistan and returned to India. Simon had gone to Afghanistan early last year at his brother’s behest.
Simon and two of his aides, a driver and a helper, were abducted from their homes. The helper is suspected to be involved in the crime as he was subsequently released.

The driver was reportedly freed after the company paid some ransom. Abduction for extortion is rampant in Herat.