Indians recount harrowing ordeal in Libya

New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI) The Indians who were evacuatedfrom Libya recounted their harrowing ordeal in the strife-torncountry after they arrived at Delhi''s IGI airport tonight.

"People have to go without food and water for threefour days as the situation there is bad. People are on thestreets...police stations have been burnt down. There is nosafety, no police," said Mohammed Sali, an engineer, who wasliving in Libya for the past 31 years.

"We had to face arson, loot by locals," he said.

However, we were provided protection by some of thelocals, who also gave shelter to around 42 foreign nationals,including Thai, Bangladeshi and Italian, he said.

Similar was the story of Mobin Qureshi, a resident ofBijnor in Uttar Pradesh, who had been living in Libya for twoyears.

"Situation of Indians, especially who are residing inworkers camps, is very bad as the camps have been burnt downand there is no shelter, food and water," he said.

Qureshi alleged authorities at Tripoli airport hadtaken away money, mobile and other valuables from thedeparting passengers.

But Sajjan Lal of Hyderabad, who was working in ahospital near Tripoli, has praised Libyan leader MoammarGadhafi saying, "He is a nice person."

Lal also praised the efforts of Indian Embassy inhelping the Indians to evacuate.

The first batch of 291 Indians arrived here in specialAir India flight AI 161.