Sushma Swaraj meets kin of 39 Indians missing in Iraq, says they are most likely in Badush jail

External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that 39 Indians who were kidnapped by the Islamic State in 2014, could be in Badush Jail, ANI reported.

Sources there told VK Singh ji that the missing Indians are most probably in a jail in Badush where fighting is still going on: EAM Swaraj pic.twitter.com/UlhNwx1ATa

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2017

On Sunday, she met families of the missing Indians in Iraq along with minister of state for ministry of external affairs MJ Akbar and retired general VK Singh.

Delhi: EAM Sushma Swaraj, MoS MEA MJ Akbar and MoS MEA VK Singh met families of 39 Indians who are missing in Iraq since 2014 pic.twitter.com/4gCXwtDBc6

— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2017

ANI reports her adding that, “I have already met them several times, but this time the situation was different as Iraqi prime minister recently announced that Mosul has been liberated from the Islamic State. The very same day I asked VK Singh ji to go to Erbil and personally oversee where are the missing Indians and how can they be rescued.” The report also adds that the Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari would be visiting India on 24 July and will provide further information. This comes as the Iraqi forces liberated Mosul on Sunday after 266 days of fierce battles, bringing to an end three years of Islamic State rule. The 39 Indian construction workers, mostly from Punjab, were held hostage in 2014. However, no demand was made for their release. VK Singh reached Erbil on Monday to discuss this issue, meeting with the local authorities as well. External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay had earlier assured that the ministry would make efforts to find the missing Indians. “If they see any Indian, not just these 39, but any Indian, we have requested them to inform us,” he added.