The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on 29 September said 39 Indians, who have been taken as prisoners in Iraq, are still alive, adding the government would do whatever necessary to secure their release after gathering more information.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his meeting on 29 September with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas discussed about the condition of those Indians taken as prisoners in Iraq and Libya.
“Modi asked the Palestine President to share with him any information he had regarding the (Indian) prisoners condition, to which the President replied saying any information regarding this matter has been transferred between India and Palestine and as soon as they receive any new information regarding the prisoners, they will let us know,” MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup told the media here.
According to President Abbas, all the captive Indians taken as prisoners are alive.
In Iraq, a group of 39 Indian construction workers have been held captive by Islamic State (IS) despite attempts by the Indian Government to secure their release.
Earlier, four Indians had been detained near the Libyan coastal city of Sirte, an area that is under the control of Islamic State militants.
