Four Indians abducted in Libya worked at a university

[Hindustani78]

Two Indians still in Islamic State captivity in Libya | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, August 1, 2015 - 18:38


New Delhi/Hyderabad: Anxiety enveloped the families of two Indians who continue to remain in captivity of suspected Islamic State militants in Sirte in Libya a day after their two other Indian colleagues were released. There were no fresh developments, said sources on Saturday.

Even as the Indian government is continuing efforts for the release of the two - Balram Kishan and T Gopikrishna, Congress leader Manish Tewari sought to know sarcastically if India was "doing business" with terror outfit IS in Libya.

On Friday, two Indians - Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar - were released by the militants. One belongs to Raichur (Karnataka) and the other to Bengaluru, said officials. On their release, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had tweeted on Friday: "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."

Indian officials are continuing efforts for the release of the other two men.

Meanwhile Tewari set off a controversy with his tweet. "Happy two Indians released in Sirte LIbya pray for others. Ques- since Sushma Swaraj claiming credit - is India doing business with IS in Libya," posted the former information and broadcasting minister.

"Since foreign minister seems to have direct "hotline" to IS or ISIS in Libya what happened to 57 people from Punjab, are they dead or alive FM," he asked.

The families of Kishan, who hails from Hyderabad, and Gopikrishna, from Andhra Pradesh`s Srikakulam district but also living in Hyderabad, are worried about their kin but also hopeful of their release since their two colleagues were freed on Friday.

Sridevi, a member of Kishan`s family, received a SMS on Friday from one of those released saying that all are safe, but the relatives are anxious as there has been no further information.

The four Indians, all teachers at University of Sirte, were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis on July 29 when they were detained at a check point, 50 km from Sirte. Gopikrishna has been teaching computer science at Jufra branch of the university since 2007 whereas Balram has been teaching English at the same university since 2011.

Kalyani, wife of Gopikrishna, said he spoke to her on Wednesday over phone and informed that he is coming home via Tunis. The couple has two children Jhanvi (10) and Eshwar (4).

Balram and Sridevi, a lecturer at a private college in Hyderabad, have two sons Vijaybhaskar (19), a B Tech student at IIT Kharagpur and Madhusudhan (12).

Andhra Pradesh`s 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 Gopikrishna. He said efforts were also being made to contact the officials of Indian embassy in Tripoli.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Friday that the Indian mission in Tripoli came to know at 11 pm 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.

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 Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed in 2011.

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 labourers from mostly Punjab, are still alive.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

 

[HAIDER]

Last Updated: Friday, July 31, 2015 - 14:07
Four Indians abducted in Libya worked at a university | Zee News


New Delhi: Three of the four Indian nationals, who have been kidnapped by militants in Libya, are teachers by profession and are employed at the Sirte University. The fourth one was working at the Sirte University branch at Jufra.


The four Indians were abducted near Sirte.

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 labourers from mostly Punjab, are still alive.

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

must be Zaid Hamid...lolzzzzzzz

 

[Hindustani78]

must be Zaid Hamid...lolzzzzzzz

Sirte is that place where Gadaffi was born and dead.

 

[HAIDER]

Sirte is that place where Gadaffi was born and dead.

No idea, whole Libya is polluted with anarchy , wonder why people go there. Zero security.

 

[power of steel]

Sirte is that place where Gadaffi was born and dead.

What's ironic is that Gaddafi hated Islamists yet his birthplace is now an Islamist stronghold. Imagine that!

 

[Saif al-Arab]

What's ironic is that Gaddafi hated Islamists yet his birthplace is now an Islamist stronghold. Imagine that!

Well, it's not that ironic when you consider the fact that Islamists were heavily oppressed during Gaddafi's over 40 years of rule. In fact everyone that did not follow his pipe was. Same story in most Arab/Muslim countries. Oppression never is the solution if you want to combat something effectively in the Arab world. It historically just tends to make the situation worse.

Libya was/is already one of the most conservative/traditional/religious Arab countries so that was a cocktail for a disaster.

Besides nowadays "Islamist" is a bad word. Historically it just reformed to people who based their beliefs on Islam and wanted Islam to play a role in the state. Not necessarily adopting full Sharia law. There are many, many different kind of Islamists. In Libya most Islamists were not militant Islamists and actually most advocated for an elective system and the abolishment of the one-party rule under the Gaddafi lunatic.

Many of the Islamists in Libya simply wanted an return of the Senussi monarchy. Especially those in Eastern Libya (Cyrenaica).

Gaddafi ironically had stints were he was a proponent of social pan-Islamism.

 

[jamahir]

In Libya most Islamists were not militant Islamists and actually most advocated for an elective system and the abolishment of the one-party rule under the Gaddafi lunatic.

1. what "one-party rule"?? there was no "party system" there... as usual, you try to sound authoritative when you don't know much.

2. terrorists like abdul-hakim belhaj had been fighting against the jamahiriya system since the 80's, needless to say supported by cia and other western intel agencies.

3. gaddafi would define himself as a "islamist".

this is just a bit of info.

Many of the Islamists in Libya simply wanted an return of the Senussi monarchy.

that's right... hence the rat-flag the "rebels" carried, which was libya's flag during the king idris's time before the 1969 revolution.

the rat-flag declares a return to slavery of nato.

Well, it's not that ironic when you consider the fact that Islamists were heavily oppressed during Gaddafi's over 40 years of rule.

gaddafi removed himself from official posting in 1979... since then he was "the guide of the revolution"... there were others who were the country's official leaders and as consented by the people.

 

[Saif al-Arab]

1. what "one-party rule"?? there was no "party system" there... as usual, you try to sound authoritative when you don't know much.

2. terrorists like abdul-hakim belhaj had been fighting against the jamahiriya system since the 80's, needless to say supported by cia and other western intel agencies.

3. gaddafi would define himself as a "islamist".

this is just a bit of info.



that's right... hence the rat-flag the "rebels" carried, which was libya's flag during the king idris's time before the 1969 revolution.

the rat-flag declares a return to slavery of nato.



gaddafi removed himself from official posting in 1979... since then he was "the guide of the revolution"... there were others who were the country's official leaders and as consented by the people.

An Indian lecturing an Arab about affairs in the Arab world. What has the world come to?

You don't even speak Arabic and your knowledge about Islamism in Libya let alone the history of Libya as a whole (outside of your Gaddafi fetish) is likely to be very small if not non-existent.

What I meant with "one-party" rule here was obviously an absolute dictatorship created and governed by nobody else than Gaddafi.

You are not even "countering" anything of what I wrote which is factual.

Yes, there was not a thing that Gaddafi was not. Pan-Islamist., pan-Arab, pan-African.

He even was crowned as the King of Africa by some African elders he bribed.

Pan-idiot would be the best description.

Without the Senussi movement and kings of Libya there would be no Libya today as we know it and Libya would likely not even have existed in its current form.

Yes, sure Gaddafi had no say after 1979. He was a mere gardener.

 

[jamahir]

An Indian lecturing an Arab about affairs in the Arab world. What has the world come to?

i wonder if you would say the same thing to a american, britisher or russian.

You don't even speak Arabic and your knowledge about Islamism in Libya let alone the history of Libya as a whole (outside of your Gaddafi fetish) is likely to be very small if not non-existent.

even this man didn't know arabic, yet he set his country to slowly become another jamahiriya...

...while you constantly try to sound authoritative on matters you have no clue about... kindly concentrate on your college and leave world affairs to others.

An Indian lecturing an Arab about affairs in the Arab world. What has the world come to?

your "arab world" is killing each other and you talk as if bashar al-assad has your mail-id to ask you for advice.

Yes, sure Gaddafi had no say after 1979. He was a mere gardener.

good analogy, man... gardener !! i am impressed.

Pan-idiot would be the best description.

Yes, there was not a thing that Gaddafi was not. Pan-Islamist., pan-Arab, pan-African.

he was and you are not.

 

[Hindustani78]

What's ironic is that Gaddafi hated Islamists yet his birthplace is now an Islamist stronghold. Imagine that!

In reality , Pro Gaddafi loyalists are using religion to come in power similar like of Iraq.

************
Bandaru Dattatreya meets family of Indian national abducted in Libya | Zee News
Hyderabad: Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Sunday met the family members of one of the two Indian nationals abducted in Libya and assured them that he would take up the matter with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

"I am going to Delhi, will be talking to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and will apprise her of the situation," said Dattatreya.

Meanwhile, Balram`s wife, Sridevi, requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swaraj to take quick action regarding the matter.

"It is mental agony for me and my children, request the External Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister to take quick action," Sridevi told ANI.

The abducted Indian, M Balram Kishan, 53, was among the Indian nationals who were evacuated from Libya in August 2014 in the backdrop of worsening fight among militias in the country.

But he chose to return in September after classes at the university resumed.

Two of the four Indians detained in ISIS-controlled territory in Libya were released earlier, said the Ministry of External Affairs.

ANI

**********

ISIS militants respect teachers, reveal freed Indian hostages | Zee News
New Delhi: Teachers are reverenced all over the world, even by dreaded terrorists. Two of the four Indians, who were abducted by Islamic State militants in Libya and later freed, have revealed that their teaching profession saved them from the captivity.

According to media reports, one of the two hostages released by ISIS narrated the entire incident about their abduction, stating they were released after the captors learnt they were teachers.

“Our profession saved us. The captors told us that they respect teachers as they impart education to many children in Libya. And, then they released us,” Vijay Kumar, 56, a faculty with Sirte University told an English daily.

Kumar and his colleague Laxmikant Ramakrishna, who hail from Kolar and Raichur respectively, were abducted along with two other Indians by ISIS militants on Wednesday at a checkpoint 50 km from Sirte.

“We were heading towards the airport in two separate cabs when we got a call from the driver of the other cab that their car was stopped mid-way. When we reached there we saw some gunmen surrounding the cab. We were then taken to an isolated area where our luggage was inspected,” said Laxmikant Ramakrishna.

The four men were locked up in a dark room. All they could hear was the distant sound of vehicles.

“In the room we were interrogated by a man who called himself 'Sheikh'. He enquired about our religion. He then spoke to someone over phone. Later, he told us that they would be releasing us without inflicting any harm,” Kumar was quoted as saying.

The two Indians will leave Sirte for Tunis on Sunday from where they will head to India on August 03, 2015.

However, their other two colleagues - Balram Kishan and T Gopikrishna remain under the ISIS captivity even as the Indian government is continuing efforts for their release.

(With Agency inputs)

 

[acid rain]

No offense, I get that many of our Indian friends are desperate to improve their living conditions and thus move abroad in search for work, often in the Arab world, but Libya of today would be one of the last places that I would visit as an Indian laborer looking for work.

It's a war zone almost for God's sake. Stay out unless absolutely necessary or risk paying the price.

This is not Libya 5 years ago.

I mean it's not like foreign laborers are flooding to enter Eastern Ukraine or Syria in comparison?

Anyway I hope that they will return safely as soon as possible.

3% of Indians own passports. .so don't equate "all Indians" as a generic statement. .4 or 5 individuals of all nationalities in the world would most likely be in Libya atm...wonder how many have been abducted.

Good to see you. You are one of my favorite poster in this forum. Since you are from ME, don't you think India has some kind of relations with Daesh because every time they capture Indians, most of them get free.

How come two of them are released ? We have not seen anyone come out safely. This clearly proves that India has its hand in supporting Daesh. No doubt they have come in Afghanistan.

Good to see you. You are one of my favorite poster in this forum. Since you are from ME, don't you think India has some kind of relations with Daesh because every time they capture Indians, most of them get free.

You pakistanis are funny..

You lot have been conditioned by your al mighty army and it's propaganda wing that India and raw runs isis, CIA runs al qaeda ..mossad runs isis and India controls isis.

Pretty dumb to assume that when raw can control the most effed up groups of Muslims like the taliban isis ttp etc...it would be a peice of cake to control the rest of the Muslims too..but the reverse is true..muslim extremists and jihadis are running circles around every security organization in the world and the extremists in the society like the Jamaatis wajaabis salafis etc .they are hell for every civilised society.

 

[Hindustani78]

Indians kidnapped by Islamic State fine, says freed captive | Zee News
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - 13:24

Bengaluru: The two Indians still in IS captivity in Libya are fine, said Laxmikant Ramakrishna who was among the two freed and sent home.

Four people working at the University of Sirte were abducted by the Islamic State on July 29.

Ramakrishna told the media after arriving here that the "boss or sheikh of the captors have told me that they will be fine and there is nothing to worry about them".

He said he had been given a special phone number to call to check on them from time to time. He said he has been trying to do that and appealed to the media to carry news "with responsibility".

Ramakrishna, 37, and three others were abducted when they were headed for India from Sirte city near capital Tripoli on July 29. Two of them were set free, while the other two are still in captivity.

 

[Hindustani78]

On arrival, Mr. Lakshmikanth boarded a car and left for Raichur. Photo shows Mr. Lakhmikanth's wife Pratibha at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

Professor abducted by IS reaches Hyderabad - The Hindu
Professor Lakshmikanth of Raichur district, who was allegedly abducted by IS militants in Libya and later released, arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

According to airport sources, Mr. Lakshmikanth was accompanied by an MEA official. On arrival the professor boarded a car and left for Raichur.

Mr. Lakshmikanth along with M.S.Vijaykumar of Kolar district, were working in University of Sirte. They were allegedly abducted while trying to flee the trouble-ridden country and later released. They were taken to the Indian Embassy in Tripoli, who ensured that they boarded Delhi-bound flight from Tunis.

The two Indians still in IS captivity are fine, said Mr. Lakshmikanth.

He said he had been given a special phone number to call to check on them. He said he has been trying to do that and appealed to the media to carry news “with responsibility”.

 

[rubyjackass]

No offense, I get that many of our Indian friends are desperate to improve their living conditions and thus move abroad in search for work, often in the Arab world, but Libya of today would be one of the last places that I would visit as an Indian laborer looking for work.

It's a war zone almost for God's sake. Stay out unless absolutely necessary or risk paying the price.

This is not Libya 5 years ago.

I mean it's not like foreign laborers are flooding to enter Eastern Ukraine or Syria in comparison?

Anyway I hope that they will return safely as soon as possible.

These people are teachers, not low pay labourers. At some level, things like teaching in a disadvantaged country, or travelling the world by interest must have crossed their minds.