One of the 40 kidnapped Indians escapes: Report
"In what may hold out hope for the abducted Indian workers in Iraq, it has emerged that one of the men abducted from Mosul managed to break free and has gotten in touch with Indian officials," reported The Hindustan Times.
“He is safe and is currently in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil,” Iraqi Red Crescent’s president Dr Yaseen Abbass told the newspaper.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said the Indian embassy in Baghdad is following up with Iraqi Ministry.
"Our embassy in Baghdad has been consistently following the matter up with the Iraqi Ministry," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told a media briefing on Thursday.
He also said they have information about the Indians who have been abducted in Iraq but could not reveal any further details.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Indian government will take all efforts to bring back the Indians abducted in Iraq.
"I will meet the families today. Our government will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring them back," said Swaraj.
The MEA on Wednesday confirmed that 40 Indian workers have been kidnapped in the strife-torn Iraqi town of Mosul.
"I can confirm to you now, these 40 Indians, who were working with Tariq Ur Alhood construction company, have been kidnapped," Akbaruddin said on Wednesday.
He, however, said that no ransom calls were received.
"We have not received any call of any nature from anyone indicating about ransom or about taking Indians in custody in Iraq," he said.
He said that the ministry had received over 60 calls from families of the people who are stuck in Iraq.
"Area of uncertainty in security is not where majority of Indians are. We have asked Red crescent to reach out. It has contacted them and ensure security and welfare. They have been advised not to use the surface route," he said.
Akbaruddin also assured that they will not leave any stone unturned to find the abducted Indians.
India has sent Suresh Reddy, a former ambassador to Iraq who is now posted in Indonesia, in view of the crisis.
More than 10,000 Indians are living in Iraq, where Al Qaeda backed Sunni rebels of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have captured several cities in the past week triggering a heavy conflict with the Iraqi forces. The rebels are marching towards Baghdad.
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