At least 17 bus passengers were abducted by the Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan's northern Sar-e-Pul province on Thursday, said local officials.
The incident took place in Dehmurda village of Balkhab district of the province last night after Taliban insurgents stopped the bus they were travelling in.
Zabihullah Amani , a spokesman for the provincial governor, said all the victims were men.
"All people who were abducted were non-governmental people and they (Taliban) released the women and children," Tolo News quoted him as saying.
He added that though the police have started search operations, no news of the whereabouts of the hostages is known yet.
The move comes just two days after Taliban insurgents abducted more than 200 bus passengers in northern Kunduz province.
Most of them were released, but at least eight are still being held hostage.