One kidnapped Indian oil worker freed in Sudan
An Indian oil technician held hostage in Sudan for more than three weeks was released safe and well on Wednesday although three of his compatriots remain captive, the Indian ambassador said.
By Agencies |
KHARTOUM: An Indian oil technician held hostage in Sudan for more than three weeks was released safe and well on Wednesday although three of his compatriots remain captive, the Indian ambassador said.
"I can confirm that one of them returned to his base camp this morning, about six hours ago. He is safe and well. He is unharmed," Deepak Vohra told AFP by telephone in Khartoum.
The ambassador expressed hope that the other three oil workers, who were abducted with their Sudanese driver on May 13 in an area adjoining Sudan's disputed oil district of Abyei, would be released soon.
"I would say that it should be fairly soon," said Vohra. Local tribesmen are understood to have been behind the abduction of the four oil workers, which marked the first time that Indians have been kidnapped in the oil-rich African country.
In the past, Darfur rebels have kidnapped foreign oil workers from Sudanese oilfields, often targeting Chinese companies because of their strong ties with Khartoum, although all of those abducted eventually emerged unscathed.
The Indians, all men in their 30s, work for Petro Energy Contracting Services, which provides technical services to the oil industry. The company employs 75 Indians in Sudan.
The technicians were travelling in a single vehicle when they were surrounded by kidnappers while returning from Neem oil field to Heglig.
Two days after their abduction, the United Nations evacuated its entire civilian staff of 259 people from Abyei following clashes between Sudanese government troops and southern forces.
Abyei and surrounding areas are prey to sporadic violence between tribes aligned either with the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum or with the administration in the south despite a 2005 peace deal that ended the civil war.
"I can confirm that one of them returned to his base camp this morning, about six hours ago. He is safe and well. He is unharmed," Deepak Vohra told AFP by telephone in Khartoum.
The ambassador expressed hope that the other three oil workers, who were abducted with their Sudanese driver on May 13 in an area adjoining Sudan's disputed oil district of Abyei, would be released soon.
"I would say that it should be fairly soon," said Vohra. Local tribesmen are understood to have been behind the abduction of the four oil workers, which marked the first time that Indians have been kidnapped in the oil-rich African country.
In the past, Darfur rebels have kidnapped foreign oil workers from Sudanese oilfields, often targeting Chinese companies because of their strong ties with Khartoum, although all of those abducted eventually emerged unscathed.
The Indians, all men in their 30s, work for Petro Energy Contracting Services, which provides technical services to the oil industry. The company employs 75 Indians in Sudan.
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The technicians were travelling in a single vehicle when they were surrounded by kidnappers while returning from Neem oil field to Heglig.
Two days after their abduction, the United Nations evacuated its entire civilian staff of 259 people from Abyei following clashes between Sudanese government troops and southern forces.
Abyei and surrounding areas are prey to sporadic violence between tribes aligned either with the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum or with the administration in the south despite a 2005 peace deal that ended the civil war.
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