External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday rejected claims that 39 Indians held hostage by the Islamic
State (IS) in Iraq have been killed.
The claims were made by Harjit Masih, who returned to India after escaping from the militant group's clutches in Iraq.
"I do not believe Harjit Masih's claims that 39 Indians were killed. I have met family members of the Indian nationals, who are stranded in
Iraq, had discussions with them. Eight sources have confirmed to us that the Indians are alive, we do not believe the claims of Harjit
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Masih," Swaraj told ANI.
The External Affairs Minister emphasized that the government will continue the search for the hostages
"Earlier I had six sources, now I have two more, the eighth source is reliable. There is no point in doubting my source," she added.
Around 40 Indian nationals, who were employed by a construction company in Baghdad, were kidnapped after Iraq's second largest city,
Mosul, fell to the ISIS.
Harjit had earlier this year escaped from the clutches of the dreaded terror group.
