Passports issued to 11 Indians stranded in Iraq

NEW DELHI: Efforts to evacuate the 11 stranded Indians from Iraq gained momentum on Tuesday with passports being issued to them; four days after some armed assailants attacked them killing their three compatriots.

Passports were given to them in Karbala, where they are currently stationed, by the Indian Embassy in Baghdad, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said.

The passports and other belongings of the group of 14 Indians were taken away by the armed men who attacked them at Rutba on August 31 when they were on their way to Karbala for pilgrimage.

During the attack three male members of the group were killed by the attackers. Their funeral was conducted on Sunday in Karbala.

The 11 people will be given transit visa by Iran tomorrow after which they will be transported to Tehran expectedly by Thursday.

Proper attention is being paid to their welfare at the Bohra Community Centre of Faizi Hussaini Trust run by an Indian Abdul Hussain Karbala, said the minister.