Efforts on to bring 2 kidnapped teachers back, says MEA

VIzag/ New Delhi: Four Indian teachers were abducted by the Islamic State on the night of July 29 while they were returning from Tripoli to India. On Friday, Mr Lakshmikanth and Mr Vijay Kumar of Karnataka were released.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the two had been brought back safely to the University of Sirte and efforts were continuing for the release of the others. He said it is not yet known how they had been freed.

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said, “I am happy we have been able to secure the release of Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar. We are trying for the release of the other two.” Ms Swaraj had briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident on Friday morning.

“On July 29 at around 11 pm, our Mission in Tripoli came to know that four Indians who were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis, were detained at a checkpoint nearly 50 km from Sirte. Of the four, two are from Hyderabad, one from Raichur and one from Bengaluru. Three of them are faculty members at the Sirte University and one is working at the Sirte University branch in Jufra,” said Mr Vikas Swarup.

“The MEA, through its head of Mission in Tripoli is ascertaining the reasons for the kidnapping and other details,” he added.

Sources said that the kidnappers have not demanded any ransom. Minister for IT Palle Raghunath Reddy and Srikakulam MP K. Rammohan Naidu has urged Ms Swaraj to take immediate steps for the safe return of Mr Gopi Krishna and Mr Balram. Mr Gopi Krishna has been a faculty member at the University of Sirte since 2007. His wife, Kalyani, and children live in Nacharam while his parents, T.V. Narayana Rao and T. Saraswati live in Tekkali town.