17 Indians return from captivity in Libya- Families get emotional

On the evening of August 20th, 17 Indian nationals were rescued from captivity in Libya. These individuals had been held captive in the city of Zwara in the North African country of Libya. They had been lured to Libya by false promises of employment in Italy, having been illegally trafficked by deceitful intermediaries.

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Let's delve into the details of this incident:

Seventeen Indian men hailing from the northern states of Haryana and Punjab were sent to Libya by middlemen and agents responsible for this fraudulent scheme.

Initially, these men were taken to Dubai and then subsequently to Egypt, from where they were sold to the mafia in Libya.

In Libya, they were subjected to unpaid labor, as well as physical torture and abuse at the hands of their captors.

Sources indicate that a significant sum of money was extorted from them, based on hopes of achieving grand aspirations. An approximate amount of 14-16 lakhs rupees was taken from these men. They have provided information regarding their agents and middlemen.

Within a few days of their arrival in Libya, these men managed to contact their families. The families of these nationals informed the Indian embassy in Tunis, which oversees matters related to Libya. The embassy maintained continuous communication with the families of the captives.

Throughout the months of May and June, the embassy persistently engaged with Libyan authorities in an effort to resolve the situation.

Rahul Sharma contacted both the embassy and the office of Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who played a crucial role in facilitating the evacuation of these men.

The Libyan authorities succeeded in rescuing them from captivity but detained them due to their illegal entry into the country. Following high-level intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs with the Libyan authorities, an agreement was reached to release these men.

The Indian embassy facilitated the required travel certificates for their return to India and also took responsibility for their sustenance and other needs.

Most of these men came from farming families who had sold their land to finance their overseas endeavors, only to find themselves trapped in a nightmarish ordeal.

Upon being reunited with their families at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, tears streamed down their faces.

The Ministry of External Affairs has once again demonstrated its commitment to aiding Indians stranded in any corner of the world.

The embassy continues to uphold the words of the late Finance Minister, Sushma Swaraj, who proclaimed that "even if you are stuck on Mars, the Indian embassy there will help you."

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