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(Recast)India says its 39 nationals abducted in Iraq are alive

Xinhua, June 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said 39 Indians abducted by the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq are still alive.

Swaraj dismissed reports about their killing at a press conference held in New Delhi on Sunday.

"When I am saying that they were alive, I have a huge responsibility to find them. I have been searching for them over the last two years," she said in response to a question.

"We got information about them being alive from two heads of state. It is my duty to search for them. And I will do so. So, it will be unjust on my part to say that the Indians held in Iraq are dead," she added.

The abductions were carried out in June 2014.

A testimony by an Indian national, Harjit Masih, said all the 39 Indians had been killed. Masih, according to reports, had managed to flee from captivity of the IS.

Swaraj also said her ministry was trying its best to ensure safe release of Judith D'Souza, an aid worker and resident of Kolkata, who was abducted in Kabul this month. Endit