2 Indians abducted in Libya

NEW DELHI: Two Indians have been abducted in Sirte in war-devastated Libya even as two other nationals remain in the custody of Islamic militants for past more than one-and-a-half months.

"It has been learnt by our Mission in Tripoli that two Indian nationals -Pravash Ranjan Samal, hailing from Odisha, and Ramamurthy Kosanam, resident of Andhra Pradesh, have apparently been taken from Ibn-e-Sina in Sirte where they had been working, and detained...," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said.

He said all efforts were being made to "ensure the well- being and secure early release of our nationals".

He also said that Indian mission in Tripoli was making further inquiries for confirmation of the incident and is in touch with the local people, who can help in securing release of the two Indian nationals.

The matter has also been taken up at diplomatic level, he said.

The latest incident comes even as two Indians, who were working in a university in Sirte, remain in the captivity after being abducted by Islamic militants in July.

Sirte is under the control of the Islamic State terror group, which is steadily expanding its influence in central Libya.