AP Govt says Kidnapped Telugus in Libya safe

The two Telugu men still under the captivity of alleged terrorists in Libya are safe, the Andhra Pradesh government said on Monday.

The information was received by the state government's representative in New Delhi, K. Rammohan Rao, who spoke to Indian diplomat in Tripoli, Mohammad Rashid Khan over phone, and was told that the dean at the University of Sirte is in regular touch with the abductees.

Rao said all efforts were being to secure the release of the two teachers - T. Gopikrishna and Balram Kishan. Rao also spoke to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj regarding the steps being taken to secure safe and early release of the two Telugu men. The families of Gopikrishna and Kishan here remained a worried lot as they have not heard anything directly from them since they were kidnapped on July 29.

Four Indians, all teachers at University of Sirte, were kidnapped allegedly by Islamic State militants when they returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis. A spokesman of ministry of external affairs had said they were detained at a checkpoint, 50 km from Sirte.

Though two others hailing from Karnataka were released on Friday, there was no word about the two Telugu men. Kishan hails from Hyderabad while the family of Gopikrishna, who is from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, also lives in Hyderabad. Gopikrishna has been teaching computer science at Jufra branch of the university since 2007 whereas Balram has been teaching English at the same university since 2011.