Kidnapped Indian engineers still in captivity

NEW DELHI: Two abducted Indian engineers in Nigeria continued to be in captivity for the fifth day on Wednesday amid hopes that they would be released soon.

"Our daughter-in-law (Lata) told us that negotiations for the release of the two men have entered a crucial stage," Ajit Kakoty, father of kidnapped 32-year-old fire engineer Debashish Kakoty, said.

"The officials are in touch with my daughter-in-law though they have not given her details of the kidnappers or whether any ransom has been demanded," he said.

"We are praying that our son and his friend return home soon."

Kakoty and Sunil Dave of Maharashtra were abducted from their residential quarters in Nigeria's Port Harcourt on Saturday morning.

The Indian government has said negotiations are being conducted by "some private parties" and not by it as the kidnappers are purely criminal elements.