How Gorakhpur’s Tabassum Mansoor helped free 7 Indians in Libya

GORAKHPUR: A Gorakhpur-born school principal in Libya, Tabassum Mansoor, 58, played a crucial role in mediations to secure the release of seven Indians, who were in captivity of a militia group in war-torn Libya, since September 13, when they were en route to Tripoli airport to board a flight to India.

On Monday, the ministry of external affairs announced the release of seven Indians, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat and were employed with Al Shola Al Mudea energy company in Libya. Speaking to TOI from Benghazi, Tabassum Mansoor, who runs Indian International School, confirmed she held protracted negotiations with Libyan kidnappers to secure their release. Mansoor has been living in Libya for 30 years and had earlier helped evacuate 3,000 stranded Indians in 2011 after the toppling of the Muammar Gaddafi regime.

“The seven Indians left Brega in an SUV to catch a flight from Tripoli, 800km away. The militants had been tipped off about their flight to India and that they had cash on them. The SUV was intercepted in Asswerif area, where they were robbed and taken hostage. I cannot divulge details of negotiations due to security concerns,” she told TOI.

Her Gorakhpur-based brother, Dr Osama Habib, said, “Tabassum last came to Gorakhpur 18 months ago when our mother died. She also arranged the wedding of her daughter here two years ago.”

My sister helped in evacuation of stranded Indians Libya during the Benghazi unrest and was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Apravasi Bharatiya Ratan Puruskar in 2017.”

Recollecting her childhood days, Habib said, Tabassum has always been a fighter and exemplified courage. “She stands by truth and helps the needy. She had this trait since childhood when she would stand up for servants in the house. My father established the first chartered accountancy company in Gorakhpur and Tabassum did her schooling and graduation from Gorakhpur before moving to Libya.”

In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry had on Monday said: “All seven Indians are in good health and are currently staying in the company's premises in Brega. We are trying to complete requisite formalities to enable their return to India".

Earlier, TOI had spoken to Lallan Prasad, brother of one of the hostages, Munna Chauhan, who hails from Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Chauhan was employed as an argon welder and had gone to Libya through a Delhi-based recruiter, N D Enterprises Travel Agency. “The militants had demanded $20,000 ransom from Libyan firm for their release. His visa had expired on September 13 and he had called home to say he was boarding a flight home. Hours later, his phone went dead.” Lallan filed an online FIR with Delhi’s Prasadpur police station on September 27 and appealed to external affairs ministry to help release the Indians in captivity.