Visakhapatnam: As Friendship Day is being celebrated the world over on the first Sunday of August, two close friends from AP and Telangana, T. Gopi Krishna and Ch. Balram Kishan are facing a tough time as they are held hostages by the IS in Libya.
Gopi Krishna, 39, from Tekkali in Srikakulam district was an assistant professor of computer science at Sirte University, while Balram Kishan, 50, from Karimnagar, was a professor of English at the same varsity. They became close friends as both are Telugus and their families are staying in Hyderabad.
Mr Krishna and Mr Balram Kishan were returning to India when they were kidnapped on July 29. Mr Krishna’s close friends G. Leela Vara Prasad and Kishore Patro said that they and Mr Krishna had celebrated Friendship Day last year at Tekkali in Srikakulam district. However, this year’s Friendship Day has turned into a nightmare for them.
“The fate of our best friend Gopi Krishna and his close friend Balram in Libya is still unknown. How can we celebrate Friendship Day this year,” said Ms Prasad and Mr Patro. Mr Krishna was scheduled to visit Tekkali to participate in his school’s old boys association meeting on August 29. Parents, relatives and friends of Mr Krishna in Tekkali are anxiously waiting for his return and are hooked to TV sets.
On Sunday, sports minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu visited Mr Krishna’s parents’ house in Tekkali and said that the government was making efforts with the help of the Centre and Libya to free him.
No information given by varsity, say kin:
The families of the two kidnapped teachers met Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya on Sunday. Ms Sridevi, Prof. Balram’s wife, urged the external affairs minister and the PM to take quick action.
Ms Sridevi’s brother M. Rangachari, said, “We tried calling them (Sirte University officials) several times but it gets connected rarely. They say they are in talks with the abductors and the release will happen soon. Despite asking other questions about the outfit or their motives, they are not disclosing any information.” Ms Sridevi hopes to speak with them and find out what exactly is going on.
