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Iraq
Indian workers abducted in Mosul
2014-06-19
INDIA CONFIRMED on Wednesday that 40 of its nationals, who were working for a construction company and were stranded in the violence-torn city of Mosul in Iraq, had been abducted.

“These 40 workers were working for Tariq Noor Al Huda Construction Company,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told newspersons.

“Our understanding is that, based on information gleaned from various sources, including the International Red Moon Shaped Thingy Crescent Society, is that these 40 Indian workers....I can confirm that they have been kidnapped,” he said. The workers are mainly from Punjab and other parts of north India.

He said the Red Moon Shaped Thingy Crescent had, however, been unable to find out where the Indians were being held or by whom. “These are difficult situations. We are working with the company and, also, we are trying to work with the Red Moon Shaped Thingy Crescent,” he said.

“We have not received any calls of any nature from anyone,” he said when asked if any group had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping or made any ransom demand. “We have not received any information whatsoever.”

As many as 46 Indian nurses, mostly from Kerala, are known to be stranded in Tikrit and the Indian mission had requested the Red Moon Shaped Thingy Crescent to establish contact with them, which was done on Tuesday, Akbaruddin said. He said that most of them had indicated that they would like to stay on in Iraq but the government would make arrangements for the return of anyone who wished to come back home.

Akbaruddin said about 200 Indians employed by a Turkish company had been stranded in Najaf and the Indian Embassy had established contact with it. The company had promised to provide assistance to any of the Indian workers who wish to return to India, he said.

He said the government would not spare any effort to help the Indians in Iraq and that it was in touch with its partners in that country and in the region as well as with the United Nations and agencies such as the Red Moon Shaped Thingy Crescent. “These are difficult times for us and we trying out best on all fronts,” he added.
Posted by:Steve White

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