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Friday, Jul 23, 2004

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National

Save them, families urge Centre

EXCRUCIATING SUSPENSE: Relatives comfort Pagho Devi, mother of Antaryami, one of the three Indian truck drivers taken hostage by Iraqi militants, at Dehlan village in Himachal Pradesh. — AP

ROPAR (SHIMLA), JULY 22. The families of two of the three Indians held hostage in Iraq by a group calling itself the ``The Holders of the Black Banners'', today urged the Government to take steps to ensure their early release. The militant group has threatened to behead the hostages if India did not announce its intention to withdraw its citizens from Iraq immediately.

``The Government must intervene and save their lives. With great hopes we had sent our son abroad in April this year after selling a piece of land. Little did we know that we will have to face this,'' said Sher Singh, the father of hostage, Sukhdev Singh, who hails from Ropar district of Punjab.

Mr. Sher Singh said that the family owned just two acres of land and had sold one acre to obtain money to send the 26-year-old Mr. Sukhdev Singh to Kuwait a few months ago.

``We thought he will work in Kuwait and earn some money there to support his family, but look what fate had in store for us,'' a distraught Mr. Sher Singh said.

Father shocked

The family had come to know that he had been taken hostage from the newspapers. ``So far no government official has visited us,'' he said. Mr. Sukhdev Singh's mother Pal Kaur, fighting back tears, said she wanted her son back safe.

The family of Antaryami, who hails from Una in Himachal Pradesh, said local police had contacted them. Thirty-three-year-old Antaryami, who has a son and a daughter, had gone to Kuwait to take up a driver's job about eight months ago.

Mr. Antaryami's father, Rampurti, said he had talked to his son only a few days back.

The DSP, Una, Annupam Sharma, also contacted the family and assured them that they would be informed about the latest developments. ``Antaryami left for Kuwait on November 22 last year along with six others with all valid documents and through proper channel. He is a heavy vehicle driver,'' Mr. Antaryami's uncle, Ram Das said. Mr. Ram Das said that several Himachal police officials had visited them in the afternoon. ``We learnt about Antaryami having been taken hostage through the media. His mother has been bed-ridden since then,'' he said.

Mr. Ram Das said the Indian Government should immediately intervene and save their lives. ``We had high hopes for this boy, who is very hard-working. We pray to God to spare his life,'' he said, breaking down.

The third Indian hostage, Tilak Raj, also hails from Una district, sources said.

While Mr. Antaryami hails from Upper Dehlan, Mr. Tilak Raj hails from the Dharampur village of the district.

V.B. Singh's appeal

The Chief Minister, V. B. Singh, has urged the Centre to use all diplomatic channels to ensure the safe release of the hostages.

He asked the Iraqi insurgents to release the abducted drivers, and directed the Una administration to provide support to the family members.

PTI

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