The six-week long hostage crisis involving three Indians ended today with Iraqi militants releasing them, bringing to an end an anxiety and uncertainty filled drama in the strife-torn country.
Three Kenyans and an Egyptian, who were held captives alongwith the Indians since July 21, were also released.
The hostages -- Antaryami, whom once the abductors had threatened to kill if their demands were not met, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh -- were received by Indian Ambassador Swashpawan Singh as they flew in at Kuwait International Airport. They are expected to be flown home tomorrow.
They were hugged and presented flowers by executive and employees of the Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) transport company for which they worked.
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The Indians and the other four, were driving trucks inIraq when they were taken hostage by a little known militant group 'IslamicSecret Army - Holders of Black Banners'.
"The hostages have been released," a jubiliant External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh announced at a Press conference in Delhi flanked by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, who headedthe Crisis Management Group (CMG) set up to deal with the situation.
"A little while ago I spoke to Antaryami. They are all happy and safe," Ahamed said.
"We have got them released in consistent with our policy and without sacrificing any of the principles," he said in apparent reference to government's policy not to negotiate with the terrorists and pay ransom.
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However, KGL said the freedom of the hostages was secured after payment of one milliondollars, and denied it had halted operations in Iraq as demanded by the abductors.
"We paid nearly one million dollars in all to secure their release. The payment was made in four phases," KGL spokesperson Rana Abu-Zaineh said over the phone from Kuwait soon after her company's drivers were set free.
She claimed the Indian government, which was kept informed about the developments in the hostage crisis on a regular basis, was aware of the payment of ransom.
As news of the release came in, a sense of relief descended on the homes of thethree and anxious relatives burst into celebrations.
Expressing his happiness over the release, President AP J Abdul Kalam said the entire nation was relieved and he was looking forwardto their return home.
"Their release is a gift of Guru Granth Sahab. Itis a re-birth for us," said a visibly relieved brother of Sukhdev Singh inRopar.
Antaryami's elated father Ram Murti also expressedhappiness in Una. The family had been keeping their fingers crossed sinceAntaryami had been at one point picked by the abductors to be killed first.
Natwar said Ahamed had spoken to the hostages aftertheir release and their families and was in touch with Indian missions inBaghdad and Kuwait as part of the efforts to bring them home.
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The abductors had demanded among others that the KGLend its operations in Iraq and pay compensation to 250 victims of operations ofUS-led forces in Fallujah.
After protracted negotiations, which saw ups and downs,the militant group announced on August 26 that it was ready to free the hostagesdropping all demands if KGL declared publicly that it had ended its operationsin Iraq. The company responded to the demand the next day.
"We are all very relieved and so are all people ofIndia," the External Affairs Minister said adding the "anxiousmoments" had ended.
He thanked Ahamed for the long hours he had put in thelast 40 days working almost round-the-clock monitoring the hostage developments.
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Ahamed said the government was thankful to all thosewho helped in the release of hostages.The government, despite sending a seniorMEA official to Baghdad, did not enter into negotiations with the abductors andleft it to KGL.
Ahamed said during the crisis he had been keeping thePrime Minister and Natwar informed about the situation on day-to-day basis.
"It is an end to our agony and anxiety," hesaid.
Confusion was created on August one when Kenyan ForeignMinister Chiran Ali Mwakwere announced in Nairobi that the hostages had beenreleased.However, KGL immediately denied it.
On August seven, the negotiations reached the peak withboth KGL and Indian government saying the hostages would be released"within hours". But a setback was received the next day when theabductors came up with a new demand prompting KGL to pull out of the talks.
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The company accused Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi, who wasmediating on behalf of the abductors, of "playing games" and asked themilitant group to nominate a fresh representative or hold direct talks.
Subsequently, a two-week lull was witnessed before KGLroped in some unidentified "Iraqi religious people" to negotiate,which bore fruit.
PTI
