Latest updates:
Two of the four Indians who were detained in Libya on July 29th have been released, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed this evening. In a tweet on Friday evening, Ms. Swaraj “I am happy we have been able to secure the release of Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar. Trying for other two,” she added, referring to the Professors from Hyderabad, who were also held by an unidentified group outside the Libyan city of Sirte.
Officials said they were not in direct negotiations with the captors of the four men, but that the University of Sirte, that had employed them was speaking to them. It is also unclear whether the men were held by members of the dreaded terrorist group ISIS that has control of Sirte, or an allied group like rebels owing allegiance to former leader Gaddafi, or even a “splinter group”, one official told The Hindu.
Earlier report:
Four Indian nationals, working as teachers in Libya, have been abducted, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday. According to the Spokesperson of the MEA, Vikas Swarup, the four Indians - two from Hyderabad and two from Karnataka - were abducted on July 29.
Giving details of the abductees, he said three are faculty members in the University of Sirte and one works at the university. "Two days ago, on July 29 at around 11 pm, our Mission in Tripoli came to know that four Indian nationals who were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis, were detained at a checkpoint approximately 50 kms from Sirte," Mr.Swarup said.
The spokesperson also said the authorities are in regular touch with the families of the abductees and that the MEA through head of mission in Tripoli is ascertaining details. "According to information available through our sources, all the four Indian nationals have been brought back to the city of Sirte," Mr. Swarup said. Sources said that since ISIS controls the former Gaddafi stronghold of Sirte, officials suspect the four men are being held by IS or forces allied to the terror group.
However, there is no clarity on whether the IS is involved in the abduction; there is also no information on any demands being made for ransom. On Friday morning, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the abduction.
The abduction comes at a time when the government is still trying to locate and release 39 Indians who were abducted in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq. The government has steadfastly maintained that these 39 people, mostly from Punjab are still alive.
On Thursday India had issued an advisory asking its nationals to refrain from travelling to Yemen in view of the ongoing conflict and fragile security situation there.
