Families of stranded nationals in Libya request Govt. for help

Una (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 27 (ANI): Family members of Indian labourers, who have been trapped in the current political turmoil in Libya, have made an appeal to the Central Government for their safe return.

Jyotsana, the wife of Jasveer, who is trapped in Libya Sirt City, urged the Centre and the media to help her husband in safe exit from the disturbed nation.

"When I spoke to him last time, he told that they are not getting food. He told that the local Libyans are attacking all outsiders staying in the country," said Jyotsana.

With all the telephone lines being disconnected in Libya, Internet is the only mode of contact left for the panicked family members.

They said that the local citizens of the country are torturing the immigrant workers, and making their lives miserable there.

"I received a mail from him today morning in which he told me that they are told to come till Tripoli airport through some bus. Then about 100 people among them planned to travel in a bus," said Priyanka, Jasveer's sister.

"When they travelled about three kilometres from their place, some local Libyans attacked on them and took all the money they were carrying. They also took their cell phones and other belongings," he added.

Over 500 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Libya in two fights specially arranged by Air India, after an anti- government uprising put their lives at risk.

The first flight, a Boeing 747, carrying 291 Indian nationals, arrived here around Saturday midnight.

The second flight arrived with 237 evacuated passengers, who were picked from the Libyan capital Tripoli, in an Airbus A330 at 4.10 a.m. today.

The government has arranged for two flights to be dispatched daily till March 7 to bring back the stranded Indians from Libya where a revolt against the Muammar Gaddafi government has turned violent and claimed over 1,000 lives so far.

In addition to this three specially equipped naval vessels are scheduled to reach there in ten days.

Passenger ship M V Scotia Prince, which was on its way to Toothukudi from Greece had been diverted to Libya to rescue the 18000 Indians. (ANI)