Kin rejoice release of Indians in Libya

Militants had kidnapped four teachers in 2015

Tiruveedhula Kalyani, wife of T Gopikrishna, an assistant professor in computer science at the Sirte University of Libya, who is one among the four Indians kidnapped by suspected Islamic State men on July 29 last year, is on cloud nine.

The news of her husband and another professor C Balaram Kishan of Kushaiguda released by their kidnappers came on Wednesday night, ending a year long, agonising wait for the two families.

Gopikrishna, who is a native of Tekkali in Srikakluam district of northern Andhra Pradesh, had 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 once in a year.

 “The phone came from the Ministry of External Affairs followed by a tweet by minister Sushma Swaraj. Then came the phone from my brother,” Murali Krishna, who works in a private company here, said. He added that they are in touch with the ministry in Delhi about the possible date of return of Gopikrishna. The external affairs minister’s tweet read: “I am happy to inform that T Gopalakrishna- AP (Gopikrishna) and C Balaram Kishan -Telangana, who were captive in Libya since July 29, 2015, have been rescued”.

“He said that he will be returning home soon and wanted to speak to children. But the call was short and he said that he will get back soon,” Kalyani said. She said that her husband seems to be under the protection of the Libyan army and is safe.

Meanwhile, T Narayana and Sarswathi, parents of Gopikrishna, who live in Gollaveedhi in Srikakulam, said their prayers have been answered.

Also celebrating the news is Sridevi, wife of another kidnapped assistant professor Balaram Kishan. “I received the phone call and I spoke to my husband.

 He said that he is safe and happy to be freed. He said that he wanted to see the children. He said that he along with the other professor will be returning to India on Tuesday,” Sridevi said.

The other two kidnapped teachers from Karnataka have been released.