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3 Indian pilgrims buried in Karbala

Atul Aneja

DUBAI: The three Indians who were shot dead by gunmen at close range in Iraq were buried in Karbala on Saturday. While Mehdi Baig and Mohammad Ahmad Ali belonged to Hyderabad, Syed Jafar Masiuddin hailed from Jagannapeta village of Nagaram mandal in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

They were killed on August 31 while they were on their way to Karbala — a city that draws Shia pilgrims from across the globe. They were part of a group of 14 Indians, which included 11 women. Twentysix Pakistanis were also travelling with them in the same bus, which was ambushed, in Rutba, 160 km from the restive Iraqi city of Ramadi. The women were allowed to proceed to Karbala.

An official at the mortuary in Karbala was quoted as saying that the bodies bore signs of torture and were found blindfolded, with hands and feet tied.

Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that it could take 2-3 days before the 11 Indian pilgrims could leave Iraq.

The application forms based on which fresh passports would be issued to them were expected to reach the Indian embassy in Baghdad by Monday.

The need for fresh passports has arisen because the assailants had taken away all valuables and papers belonging to the group. Once the travel documents were ready, an Iranian transit visa would be obtained, allowing the women to travel by road to Tehran. The group was then expected to fly out of Iran to India.

Neena Vyas reports from New Delhi:

Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed told The Hindu on Sunday that Indian embassy staff from Baghdad had reached the place of tragedy. Arrangements would be made by the staff to give alternative travel documents to the rest of the pilgrim group.

He said that the Faizia Husaini Trust, was helping in moving the women pilgrims from a hotel in which they were earlier lodged to the premises of the Trust. The funeral of the men who were killed took place after permission from their families. They were buried with full religious ceremony, the Minister said.

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