2 Indian teachers freed from Libya reach embassy in Tripoli

Two Indians, whose release was secured by the government out of the four kidnapped by Islamic State terror group (ISIS), reached the Indian embassy in Tripoli last night even as efforts were on to free the other two abductees.

"The two, who were brought to the University of Sirte, reached our embassy in Tripoli last night. They will leave for Tunis tomorrow, efforts (to secure the release of the remaining two) were continuing," an official source said.

"Four Indians abducted in Libya - I am happy we have been able to secure the release of Lakshmikant and Vijay Kumar. Trying for other two," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had yesterday said.

She had briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the incident as also the steps being taken by the ministry to secure their release.

"Two days ago, on July 29th at around 11 pm, our Mission in Tripoli came to know that four Indian nationals who were returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis, were detained at a checkpoint approximately 50 kms from Sirte. Of the four Indian nationals, two are from Hyderabad, one from Raichur and one from Bengaluru. Three of them were faculty members at the Sirte University and one was working at the Sirte University branch in Jufra," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup had yesterday said.

According to official sources, the area from where the Indians were kidnapped is under the control of the Islamic State, which has taken control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria and has declared itself a caliphate