Abducted Indian's family claims to have received call from him

KENDRAPARA: Family members of Indian bio-medical engineer, Pravas Ranjan Samal, abducted by Islamic militants in war-devastated Libya, today claimed to have received a phone call from him.

"Pravas called us today afternoon. Though he told he has been released, his voice was tense and edgy. He stammered and faltered while speaking," Samal's elder brother Bibhu Padarabinda told reporters at Rourkela in Odisha.

He said " Pravas did tell his whereabouts and the exact place from where he was speaking. He cried like a child. He pleaded us to rescue him from the inhospitable alien land. The call lasted for less than 3 minutes. The call was made from an unknown number which has been switched off since then."

Samal (48), hailing from Bhagabanpur area in Kendrapara town, was kidnapped by Islamic militants in trouble-torn Sirte province of Libya.

"I was told by a friend yesterday evening about my elder brother's disappearance from his workplace in Libya. It was a bolt from the blue for us. He has been serving in Libya since 2000 . During Libyan civil war in 2011 year, he stayed there safely.

"We are praying for his safe return. We believe better sense would prevail among the militants to release as he was serving for the people of their country," said Bikram, younger brother of Pravas.