NEW DELHI : Amid massive attempts to rescue 40 Indians kidnapped in trouble-torn Iraq, the Government today made it clear that location of the abducted persons have been ascertained and the Iraqi government has confirmed the ‘kidnappings’.
Giving this information, External Affairs ministry spokesperson
Syed Akbaruddin said the crisis management group on the issue had met twice today and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj chaired the meetings here.
Ms Swaraj has already contacted Chief Ministers of Punjab and Kerala and apprised them of the action being taken by the government for the safety of Indians in Iraq. Asked to specify places where kidnapped people had been kept in Mosul or anywhere else by militants, the spokesperson said such
information could not be shared ,but the government efforts for safety of those kidnapped had gained momentum ever since reaching of a special envoy from here to oversee the developments. As many as 40 Indians, largely from northern parts of the country, working in a construction company in strife-torn Mosul town of Iraq had been kidnapped, the government had confirmed yesterday.
However, their whereabouts were not known till yesterday , and the Government was working with International organisation Red Crescent to locate the workers, who had been employed by Tariq Noor Al Huda Construction company, Mr Akbaruddin had told press while replying to questions at a media briefing yesterday.. “It is with deep deep sadness we say that 40 Indians have been kidnapped,” Mr Akbaruddin said.
The information was based on the input by the Red Crescent, he said.
No ransom demand has been received so far, the Iraqi government has informed.
Mr Akbarduddin today again said that all attempts were being made for safe evacuation of stranded Indians and all avenues would be tapped.
Besides the Indians kidnapped, there were 46 Indian nurses trapped in Tikrit town of Iraq with whom the Red Crescent was in touch but it had advised them not to take the surface route for leaving the city as it was not safe due to the fighting. The spokesperson had already made it clear there was no plan to
shut down the Indian Embassy and rather it would be strengthened with more staff.
Mr Akbaruddin said the Government had a contingency plan to deal with the crisis and Secretary, East, Anil Wadhwa, was spearheading the scheme. Besides, seasoned diplomat Suresh Reddy who had served in Iraq, had been sent to help the Indian Embassy. Ms Sushma Swaraj was herself monitoring and reviewing the situation on a regular basis.
The Secretary East yesterday met Iraqi Ambassador Ahmad Tahseen
Ahmad Berwari who apprised him of the situation and they discussed
possibilities of ground-level co-operation and assistance to Indian nationals who were in the affected area. India has already expressed its support to the Iraqi government
against the attack by terrorist outfits which had taken over some cities, including Mosul and Tikrit.
(AGENCIES)
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