New Delhi : In diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian embassy in Tunis looking after Libya, successfully evacuated 17 Indian nationals from Punjab and Haryana to India, sources said on Monday. The Indians were being held captive by an armed group in Zwara City in Libya after they were trafficked from India. Since then, the Embassy has been in close touch with the family members.
As per sources, the case was brought to the attention of the Indian Embassy in Tunis on 26 May this year by the family members of the stranded Indian nationals. "Following sustained efforts by the Ministry of External Affairs and our Embassy in Tunis (looking after Libya), a group of 17 Indian nationals from Punjab and Haryana has been successfully evacuated to India", sources said.
However, the Indian embassy in Tunis regularly pursued the matter with Libyan authorities throughout May and June, as well as through informal channels. On 13 June 2023, the Libyan authorities were able to rescue the Indian nationals but kept them in their custody given that they had illegally entered the country, sources told ETV Bharat.