Two Telugu professors released from IS captivity in Libya return home

The two Telugu professors who were released from the captivity of suspected Islamic State terrorists in Libya on September 15, reached their respective homes in Hyderabad in the early hours of Saturday. Apparently, both of them are suffering from trauma.

Accompanied by a team of officials from the ministry of external affairs, the two professors -- T Gopi Krishna and C Balaram Kishan, landed at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport after midnight. Their arrival was kept so secret that even their family members were not informed about the timing of their landing. They reached their respective homes at around 4 am.

The professors were abducted by suspected Islamic State terrorists at a checkpost near Sirte in Libya on July 29, 2015, along with two other Indians Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar from Karnataka. They had been teaching at the University of Sirte since 2007.

Read: ‘Eagerly waiting to meet them’: Families of 2 Indians rescued from Libya

While Lakshmikanth and Vijay Kumar were released within 24 hours, the two Telugu professors remained in captivity for over 14 months.

Gopi Krishna and Balaram are still traumatized and were not in a position to talk to anybody.

“We are thankful to the external affairs ministry authorities for taking steps to bring my husband back to India safely. He has just arrived and has been advised to take rest for some time. He is not in a position to talk to the media,” Balaram’s wife Sridevi told HT.

It was the same story with Gopi Krishna. “He cannot speak to the media right now. Let him spend some time with his family members,” said his brother Murali Krishna.

First Published: Sep 24, 2016 09:20 IST