Seven Indians kidnapped in Libya on Sept 14, working for their rescue: MEA

7 Indians working at a construction company were kidnapped in Libya on September 14. Addressing the media, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the Indian Embassy in Tunisia has contacted the Libyan government and International organisations and are working for the release of these Indians. 

He further said that India has been informed that the kidnapped indians are safe.

The early signs were promising as the kidnappers had got in touch with the Libyan employers of the Indians. The employers were shown photographs of the Indians which suggested that they were safe and sound so far, said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava.

He, however, regretted that



they had landed in harm’s way by ignoring a four-year-old complete travel ban to Libya which is still in force.

The seven, from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and UP, were working for a construction and oil field supplies company and were kidnapped on September 14 while they were on their way to Tripoli airport to catch a flight to India. 

The men had gone to work in Libya despite a September 2015 advisory which had asked Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Libya in view of the security situation there.

Later, in May 2016, the government imposed a complete travel ban irrespective of the purpose in view of the much deteriorated security situation. This travel ban is still in force.