(Xinhua) - Afghan police have rescued a kidnapped child in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province and arrested a suspected kidnapper, Jumauddin Khaksari, spokesman for the provincial police, said Sunday.

The spokesman told reporters that, following searches, the three-year-old boy was rescued from the kidnappers yesterday evening (Saturday) and handed over to his family by the police.

The spokesman added that the police also arrested a man involved in the kidnapping of the child.

In a similar operation, the police freed a child from the grip of the kidnappers in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of Balkh province, a few days ago.

Criminal gangs often try to kidnap children from well-to-do families for ransom in the war-torn and impoverished country of Afghanistan.