Tense and still anxious about friends and relatives stranded in the violence-torn Libya, the first group of Indians, who arrived here by an Air India special flight from Tripoli on Saturday night, said they feared for the lives of those left behind.
“It's a miracle that we have managed to get out of Libya safe and sound. But we fear for our friends and fellow Indians who are still there and have to live through this revolt against Qadhafi's government which has already claimed several lives.
“Many of us were forced to go without adequate food and drinking water for several days, and have been hearing harrowing tales of cruelty by the Qadhafi government,” said Gigi John, who lived in Benghazi working as a store-in-charge.
“The international airport at Benghazi has been totally destroyed, and coming to the Tripoli airport is like crossing a minefield of security checkpoints set up by the government police. Items, including laptop, phones, camera, get confiscated at these checkpoints, and there is looting of passengers happening at the Tripoli airport. The airport itself is overcrowded with people waiting to be evacuated,” he said, sitting tense and tired at the Kerala House with Mohammed Sali and Joseph Vypin, who made the trip back to India with him.
“Streets are empty after 9 p.m., and one night we heard gunshots and found the main entrance wall to our house riddled with bullets the following morning. Indians in Libya who haven't been able to leave the country yet fear that they may not be able to meet their family anytime soon in case the Indian government does not intervene immediately,” Mr. John said.
“Step up efforts”
Asked about the work being done to help Indians in Libya, all the three said the Indian government expected people to reach the airport on their own. “But they have to understand that even going across the street to buy drinking water is dangerous, and what resources will the stranded people have to reach the Tripoli airport. The Indian government needs to step up its evacuation operation. We beg them to act fast to save the lives of the ordinary Indians still struggling in Libya,” added Mr. John.
Mohammed Sali, 63, who worked as a technical representative in Libya for more than three decades, said: “Libya has been a good country to work and live in. But the latest developments have shocked all of us. I was robbed of my belongings, including my car, mobile phone and laptop. All my investment and several important documents had to be left behind when I decided to leave the country in haste.”
Joseph Vypin, who works as a foreman in Tripoli, said: “The media has to bring out the stories of the atrocities being committed against foreigners in Libya. The common man just wants peace.”
