Four Indians kidnapped in Libya by ISIS, two released

New Delhi/Hyderabad: Four Indian nationals were abducted in Sirte in Libya where the Islamic State group holds sway. Two men were released on Friday, the government said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted: "Four Indians abducted in Libya – I am happy we have been able to secure the release of Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar. Trying for other two."

Of the two men released, one belongs to Raichur and the other to Bengaluru, said officials.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "Welcome news from Libya. 2 of the 4 detained Indians brought back safely to University of Sirte. Our efforts continue for the remaining two."

Earlier, Swarup said the Indian mission in Tripoli came to know at 11 p.m. on July 29 that four Indian nationals who were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis were "detained" at a check point, 50 km from Sirte.

In a statement, he said two of them are from Hyderabad and one from Raichur and one from Bengaluru.

Three were faculty members at the University of Sirte and one was working at the Sirte University branch at Jufra, he said.

The Islamic State is suspected to have carried out the kidnapping.

The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments on Friday said they were making all efforts to seek the safe and early release of two men from the state who were among the four Indians kidnapped.

Andhra Pradesh NRI Affairs Minister Palle Raghunath Reddy said the state government was making efforts with the help of the Indian government and Libya to secure release of Balram, a native of Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra.

One of them, Gopikrishna, is from Hyderabad. Balram is from neighbouring Andhra.

Family members of Gopikrishna said they had no information whether the four were kidnapped by ISIS or some other group.

Relatives and friends of Gopikrishna gathered at their residence in Nacharam in Hyderabad after learning about the kidnapping.

Gopikrishna has been working as an assistant professor at University of Sirte since 2007. According to family members, he has been coming home on leave every year for 45 to 50 days.

Kalyani, wife of Gopikrishna, said he spoke to her on Wednesday over phone and informed that he was coming home via Tunis. He also told her not to worry as his mobile phone will be switched off during the two-and-half hour long journey from the university to Tripoli.

"There was no phone call from him after that and yesterday we came to know about this incident," she said.

"We came to know that they were stopped and taken into custody while car driver was sent back. We don't know what happened after that," a family member said.

The family members also contacted Indian embassy in Tripoli. The embassy officials told them that the issue will be sorted out in a day or two.

The kidnapping comes even as the fate of 39 Indians kidnapped in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq remains unknown. The 39 were kidnapped by the Islamic State militants. The government maintains the men, all laborers from mostly Punjab, are still alive.

The Indian government had last year issued an advisory asking its citizens to leave Libya.

Libya has been hit by continuing violence with various militias and factions battling it out for control since Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.

(IANS)