QUETTA, Nov 1: Iranian security forces launched a crackdown in the port city of Chahbar in Sistan-Baluchestan and arrested a large of number of people after armed men kidnapped the chairman of the port authority.

Reports from Sistan-Baluchestan said that militants of Jundullah, an extremist organisation active in that region, had kidnapped the official on Monday.

However, Jundullah has not claimed responsibility for the abduction.

Reports reaching from across the border said that more security personnel had been deployed in Chahbar and a search operation had been launched to find the abducted official.

A group of Iranian youths, who crossed into Gwadar and Jewani to escape the operation, said that hundreds of people had been arrested in Chahbar by the Iranian security forces.

They said Iranian forces had also raided several villages along the border and taken into custody scores of Baloch youths. They said the crackdown had caused panic among people.

In September, Jundullah militants kidnapped 21 truck drivers and port workers in Chahbar and brought them to the Pakistan. The Pakistani security forces had got them freed.—Correspondent