Hyderabad: Uncertainty prevails regarding the release of the two Telugu academics abducted in Libya by IS terrorists. The families were not able to contact anybody from Sirte University on Monday.
Apart from repeated promises to rescue the duo, no other positive response has come from the ministry of external affairs so far, a day after the families met Union minister Bandaru Dattatreya. The families now think that university authorities have lost contact with the abductors. Sridevi, the wife of Prof. Ch. Balram Kishan is trying to contact the two lecturers from Karnataka who were released.
Meanwhile, the Telangana government’s representative said that both the men are safe and that the abductors have not harmed them. The TS representative, K. Rammohan Rao, who spoke to the Indian diplomat in Tripoli, Mohammad Rashid Khan on the phone, said that the dean at the university is in regular touch with the two Telugus.
Mr Rao said all efforts were being made to secure the release of the duo. Mr Rao also spoke to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj regarding the steps being taken to secure the release of the two Telugu men. Balram’s family said they have been trying to contact Sirte University officials on Monday, but all attempts were in vain.
“The last time we could speak to university dean Gaddafi was on Sunday. On Monday, we tried calling him. However, he never picked up the phone. It seems as if he is avoiding Indian phone numbers,” said Ch. Bagheeran, the brother of the victim.
Talking to Sridevi on Sunday varsity officials had said that talks with the abductors were progressing. However, the families have started worrying about the victims since officials have stopped responding. “We are really worried now. The MEA and TS government have promised to bring them back. However, there is no sign of progress,” said a worried Bagheeran. Meanwhile, the two Karnataka lecturers were freed reportedly by their former students who were among the abductors. However, no officials have confirmed this.
