Feels like rebirth after a year of captivity in Libya, say profs

Hyderabad, September 25  

Reunited with their families, two Indian professors, who were held captive by ISIS in Libya for over a year, say it is like a rebirth for them.

T Gopikrishna from Andhra Pradesh and Ch Balram Kishan from Telangana, who were teaching at Libya’s Sirte University, were abducted by Islamic State militants in July last year.

They were released around a week back and returned to Hyderabad on Saturday.

“I am very happy to be with my family after a gap of almost 14 months. I was unable to talk to my family members during this period...it was horrible,” Gopikrishna, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Sirte, told PTI today.

Thanking the Libyan Army and the Ministry of External Affairs, Gopikrishna said, “The Libyan Army helped us and with help from MEA we safely returned.”

Gopikrishna, who hails from Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh and stays with his family members in Nacharam area here, said, “I will look for a job in Hyderabad itself.

As of now I have no plans to go abroad.”

Balram, a professor of English hailing from Telangana, said he has no words to express his gratitude on reuniting with his family, which resides in Trimulgherry area of Secunderabad.

“It is God’s grace. We are very delighted. It is rebirth for me,” Balram told PTI.

Balram said that he has been suffering from back pain and his priority is to first take treatment for his ill-health and then to decide on the future plans.

Balram’s wife Sridevi said, “It took almost 14 months to reunite and he has come safely...the feelings cannot be expressed in words.”

Both Gopikrishna and Balram refused to comment on their captivity saying “MEA has asked us not to speak about the incident.” — PTI