Dr Ramamurthy hails from Eluru in West Godavari
Rajahmundry: The family of Kosanam Ramamurthy, a doctor from Andhra Pradesh who has been abducted by the terror group Islamic State in Libya, on Friday appealed to the Central and state governments to ensure that he returns home safely.
The IS terrorists had abducted two Indians, one each from AP and Odisha. While the biomedical engineer from Odisha is learnt to have escaped from the terrorists’ clutches, the whereabouts of Dr Ramamurthy are not known. Dr Ramamurthy hails from Eluru in West Godavari and had migrated to Libya for work about 15 years ago, while his family, including wife Annapurna Bhavani, daughters Sirisha and Nirisha and son Pawan Kumar live in AP, along with his parents, both aged over 90. At present, he was working with government-run Ibn-e-Sina hospital at Sirte in Libya, as a general physician. He used to visit home once every year and had last done so in June, 2014. He had returned to Libya in August, 2014.
According to his family members, during his last visit, he informed them that he was not keeping well and that he intended to return for good, but his employer was unwilling to relieve him due to the acute shortage of doctors there. The doctor returned to Libya hoping that he would get various benefits due to him if he gets relieved from the service as per the norms.
When four Indians were abducted by the IS terrorists, Dr Ramamurthy had called up his family and informed them that he was safe. He had also said that there were restrictions on making phone calls and availing Internet to send mails.
Ms Bhavani said, “My husband called me up 15 days ago and said that all communication was restricted and asked us not to panic if he failed to get in touch with us on a regular basis. I am appealing to the Central and state governments to rescue my husband and ensure his safe return.
Meanwhile, the family members met Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao and Eluru MLA Badeti Kota Rama Rao and sought their help.
