New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday confirmed that the seven Indian nationals abducted at Asshwerif in Libya on September 14 were released on Sunday.
India’s envoy to Tunisia, Puneet Roy Kundal, who played a key role in negotiations, spoke to them over the phone after they were handed over by the abductors to the company Shola Al Mudia.
“All of them are in good health and are currently staying in the company’s premises in Brega. We are trying to complete requisite formalities to enable their return to India”, MEA said.
Further, the government thanked the Libyan authorities and the tribal elders from the region for their steadfast cooperation in securing the release of Indian nationals unharmed.
The ministry said that both the ambassador to Tunisia and the local consular staff were in constant touch with them and the company all throughout the crisis.
It is pertinent to note that the negotiations were complex given the fact that two parallel governments were involved. India took the help of locals to secure the release.
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Ministry also informed that there is a ban on travel of Indian nationals to Libya, irrespective of the purpose, since May 2016 because of the security situation there.
According to sources, New Delhi does not have a working mission in Libya given the current situation and the Indian mission in neighbouring Tunisia is dealing with the affairs in the country.
The Indians are currently in Brega town, which is the centre of the country’s second-largest hydrocarbon complex.
The Indian nationals belong to the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. Those kidnapped had been identified as Mahendra Singh, Venkitrao Batchala, Sah Ajay, Umedirahim Bhai Multani, Danayya Bodhu, Munna Chauhan and Jogaro Batchala.
All of them had gone to Libya a year ago and were working at a construction and oil field supplies company. They were kidnapped on their way to Tripoli airport.
India, in September 2015, issued a travel advisory for Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Libya given the security situation there. Later, in May 2016, the Government imposed a complete travel ban irrespective of the purpose given the deteriorating security situation. The travel ban remains in force.
