ISIS abducts teachers from Hyderabad, Karnataka in Libya
Four Indian nationals have been kidnapped by militants in Libya, official sources said here on Friday.
Four Indians have been kidnapped by ISIS militants in Libya, official sources said here on Friday. The kidnapping took place in Sirte town near Tripoli on Thursday evening. The four Indians were teaching in Libya and were abducted in Sirte, the sources said. According to the MEA, two of the Indians abducted in Libya are from Hyderabad, and two from Karnataka. The ministry of external affairs is trying to find out more information about the kidnapped Indian teachers. The kidnapping comes even as the fate of 39 Indians kidnapped in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq remains unknown.
Of the 4 Indians abducted in Libya, 3 are faculty in University of Sirte and 1 works at the university-Vikas Swarup,MEA ANI (@ANI_news) July 31, 2015
The 39 were kidnapped by the Islamic State militants. The government maintains the men, all labourers from mostly Punjab, are still alive. The Indian government is aware of the kidnapping and MEA is trying to ascertain more information. ISIS had abducted around 20 medical workers out of which few were Indian in order to treat wounded militants.
According to a Mail Today report on June 18, The Intelligence Bureau (IB) had sounded an alert on a possible strike by terror group ISIS, or the Islamic State, across the country. The alert, which was sent to all state police forces, said the group can target Turkish nationals and interests in the country. Mail Today's Abhishek Bhalla reported that sources in Indian intelligence agencies are also working closely with their western counterparts to monitor any possible ISIS-backed terror module that may try to sneak into the country from outside. Intelligence agencies have also cautioned all airport security agencies to detect and neutralise any possible module.
The BJP in July said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA Government is making sure that ISIS is not able to attack India. "The Indian agencies knew that ISIS might spread its hold on India as well. Since the time the NDA Government came to power, we have made sure that this never happens. Our security and intelligence agencies are keeping a check on all such activities. ISIS will not be able to gain a foothold in India," said BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao told ANI.
Earlier this month, a set of two photographs taken nearly 2000 kilometres apart have led the Indian security analysts to believe the ISIS may well be influencing the social media behaviour of local Kashmiri militants. The first set of photographs and a video released on social media in the Valley purported to show 11 Hizbul Mujahideen militants in army-style combat fatigues.