India strengthens staff in violence-hit Iraq's Erbil city

NEW DELHI: India today decided to strengthen its staff by deploying two additional diplomats in Erbil camp office in violence-hit Iraq, within a week after the families of 40 Indians, who are still held captives there, requested the External Affairs Minister to do so.

According to official sources, Sanjay Rana, Counsellor from Indian embassy in Male, and Abu Mathen George, Second Secretary from India's Cairo mission are being deployed.

Currently, Suresh Reddy, India's former Ambassador to Iraq, is coordinating with the Iraqi government and humanitarian agencies to facilitate the return of stranded Indians to the country.

Meeting the families for the fifth time since the Indians were taken hostage by Islamic militants ISIS in June, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had responded positively to a suggestion made by the relatives that a senior official or a political representative should be deputed to oversee the situation.

"The minister told the families that the government was not leaving any stone unturned to secure the release of these nationals," MEA spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin had said.

The minister also told the families that government has no direct access to these nationals but was diligently pursuing the efforts to secure their release.

The 40 Indians were working on construction projects near the Iraqi city of Mosul when they were abducted by the militants in June.