14 from Coast Return from Libya, share story of gunfire showering

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 8: 14 Kannadigas from the coastal region, who were employed in Libya, returned home on Monday much to the relief of their friends and family members. The rescued Indians from Libya were flown into Mangalore Airport by an Indian Airlines flight from Mumbai at 12:15 p.m. yesterday.

The group had left Breg and had travelled to Cairo by bus on March 2, after which they were unable to find any means of transport to take them home. On March 5, they boarded a Gulf Air flight to Bahrain and then boarded another flight to Mumbai on Monday.

According to the group, all hell broke loose in Libya on Feb 18 and the two cities were bombed on Feb 19. This made the group determined to return to India at any cost. They expressed their gratefulness to the Indian government, which went the extra mile to get them out of Libya. The Indian diplomatic staff took extra care to ensure the safe return of these Indians.

Reportedly, Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, had also instructed that Indians should be safely escorted back home. Although the Western side of Libya is under the control of Gaddafi, the east is under the control of rebels.

Some of the Indians who returned from Libya spoke of gunpoint robberies and looting in Libya. They also said that they will be asked to report back to duty once things get back to normal. They said that they could not get in touch with friends back home because Internet and phone connections were cut off. A website called Libyamax had been of great assistance, reported another rescued Indian.