An Indian businessman, who owns a chain of department stores in the Philippines, has been abducted by unidentified armed men who killed one of his bodyguards.
Mike Khemani, 60, who had escaped kidnapping twice in 2007 and 2009, was abducted on Tuesday. A security guard was killed while another was wounded during the abduction, police said.
Khemani is the owner of Sugni Superstore in Kidapawan City and Kabacan town, Inquirer reported.
Aniceto Rasalan, speaking for the Cotabato City government, said, "Pursuit operation is still ongoing."
Rolen Balquin, city police chief, said three to five armed men on a black Toyota Corolla without license plate were seen in front of the victim's store along Bonifacio Street.
Report said Khemani was doing his daily work at his department store when he was grabbed by two of the kidnappers and forced him into the waiting car.
Security guards at the store tired to stop the kidnappers but were shot by the kidnappers, Rasalan said.
Quoting witnesses, Rasalan said the victim and the kidnappers were last seen transferring him to a motorboat along Rio Grande de Mindanao and sped upstream.
