Iraq: Kidnapped Indian workers may have been located

New Delhi, June 19: The Iraqi government has said that it may have located the 40 Indian

who had been kidnapped from Mosul, said the foreign ministry.

However, uncertainty still pervades on the question as to whether they have been held by the Sunni insurgent group-ISIS-or some other group.

Indicating that workers of other nationalities have also been held captive, foreign ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said,"The Iraqi foreign ministry has told us they have been able to determine where the Indians are held captive."

When queried about their safety, he said,"There is no safety in captivity. Safety is in places where people are welcome. As regards their location, we have an understanding but given that the matter is underway, we won't be able to share the location or what the Iraqis have shared."

Many of those captive are from Punjab and worked for a Baghdad-based construction company Tariq Noor al-Huda. No ransom has been demanded till now, the ministry said.

Today, family members of 12 workers met Sushma Swaraj, the minister of External Affairs. She said,"We are doing everything a government should. I am personally supervising the efforts. We will leave no stone unturned in keeping our countrymen safe."

Families of close to 100 workers who have been trapped in Iraq fear that their return may be difficult as the passports had been taken away by the employers. However, the ministry said,"Documentation is not an issue in the return and repatriation of any Indian national. Documentation can be sent by fax, other means."

ISIS fighters aim to establish a Muslim caliphate across the Iraqi-Syrian frontier and are heading toward Baghdad after seizing Mosul.

OneIndia News