Families of the 39 Indian workers, who are still captive in Iraq, met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday seeking their release. Sushma reassured the families that the men are still alive and India is trying its best for their release. The 39 Indians have been held captive by Islamic State militants for the last 18 months now.
“EAM meets with families of 39 Indians held captive in Iraq. Assures them that our efforts continue to locate them,” tweeted MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
This is the eighth time that the families have come to Delhi since the abduction in June last year from Mosul. Sushma told the families that the Government has inputs from multiple sources who have claimed that the Indians are very much alive.
Official sources said the Minister also told them that though there was no “first-hand confirmation” about the well-being of these men, multiple sources have indicated to the Centre that they were being made to work in Iraq.
“The Government is making all sincere efforts for the safe and early release of the Indian workers,” Sushma told the families. In a bid to get the men released, the EAM had earlier spoken to her counterparts in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other friendly countries in the region for their assistance in the safe release of Indians in captivity. “I have two choices: Either to believe that these 39 men are dead and stop efforts to locate them, or believe on the inputs from our sources who tell us they are alive, and continue trying for their release. I will be an optimistic and go for the second option,” Sushma had said whenever questioned on the fate of the captives.