The government is in constant touch with some sources who claim to have a clue about the 39 captive Indian citizens in Iraq. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed both the Houses of Parliament today that the government is working on the information made available to it by six sources including some non-governmental organizations.

Sharing the concern of the members, the minister sternly denied media reports about the killing of 39 Indians. She appealed to members not to arrive at a conclusion that they have been killed. She said the government is making all out efforts to bring them safe. She said the government is in constant touch with the families of those who were abducted.

Stating that the government is continuously getting updates about the situation on day-to-day basis, the Minister said two new Arabic knowing officials have been deployed for the purpose. She told the agitating members that Harjeet, one of the captive Indians, who had escaped and returned to India, is under the protective care of the government. She, however, refused to give more details saying that it hinders the safe home-coming of the captives. She made it very clear that the government is not sure that abducted Indians are alive or not, but hoped so.

In the Rajya Sabha, cutting across party lines, members expressed serious concern over the fate of the abducted Indians in Iraq as soon as the House met for the day. Mr. Anand Sharma of the Congress raised the issue quoting a news story aired on a TV channel. Some members also raised the killing of Indian army personnel and civilians in Kashmir. Earlier, responding to queries by some members regarding the foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mrs Swaraj said that she will make a detailed statement in Parliament next week.