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The families of the two assistant professors who were kidnapped by Islamic State (IS) militants in Libya have been living a nightmare for the last two-and-half months.
Neither the Ministry of External Affairs, nor the management of Sirte University have any information regarding the two persons. It is surprising that two of their counterparts from Karnataka were released by the kidnappers and are safely restored to their families just a week after their kidnap on July 30, when all the four Indians were on their way to Tripoli to catch a flight home.
“Two months have passed and there is no news about my husband. My children are still in total shock and are not able to face questions in their school and in the colony,” said Kalyani, wife of Tiruveedhula Gopikrishna, an assistant professor in computer science at the Sirte University of Libya.
Gopikrishna, along with the other teaching staff of the Sirte University, were supposed to reach their homes by August 1 as they were on their way to Tripoli to catch a flight to India via Tunisia-Dubai.
Gopikrishna, a native of Tekkali in Srikakluam district of northern Andhra Pradesh, has gone to Libya in 2007 to teach in Sirte. He completed his M Tech in computer sciences from Chennai and has been visiting his wife and children living here at Nacharam twice a year.
“All the telephone lines to the Sirte University are dead. Can’t reach the university authorities. At least the principal of that campus used to give us some information. Now, that door is also closed. The standard answer from the Ministry of External Affairs and our embassy in Tripoli is that they are on the job,” a desperate T Murali Krishna, brother of the kidnapped professor said. He said he would call the ministry on Monday.
Fading hopes
The family of another assistant professor, Balaram of Kushaiguda here, expected him to return home at least on the festival day. “We hope that one day he will come, but hopes are fading now with each news of IS killing more people,” Sridevi, wife of Balaam said.
Neither the Ministry of External Affairs, nor the management of Sirte University have any information regarding the two persons. It is surprising that two of their counterparts from Karnataka were released by the kidnappers and are safely restored to their families just a week after their kidnap on July 30, when all the four Indians were on their way to Tripoli to catch a flight home.
“Two months have passed and there is no news about my husband. My children are still in total shock and are not able to face questions in their school and in the colony,” said Kalyani, wife of Tiruveedhula Gopikrishna, an assistant professor in computer science at the Sirte University of Libya.
Gopikrishna, along with the other teaching staff of the Sirte University, were supposed to reach their homes by August 1 as they were on their way to Tripoli to catch a flight to India via Tunisia-Dubai.
Gopikrishna, a native of Tekkali in Srikakluam district of northern Andhra Pradesh, has gone to Libya in 2007 to teach in Sirte. He completed his M Tech in computer sciences from Chennai and has been visiting his wife and children living here at Nacharam twice a year.
“All the telephone lines to the Sirte University are dead. Can’t reach the university authorities. At least the principal of that campus used to give us some information. Now, that door is also closed. The standard answer from the Ministry of External Affairs and our embassy in Tripoli is that they are on the job,” a desperate T Murali Krishna, brother of the kidnapped professor said. He said he would call the ministry on Monday.
Fading hopes
The family of another assistant professor, Balaram of Kushaiguda here, expected him to return home at least on the festival day. “We hope that one day he will come, but hopes are fading now with each news of IS killing more people,” Sridevi, wife of Balaam said.
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(Published 20 September 2015, 20:40 IST)
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