Four Indian teachers have been detained in Sirte, a stronghold town of the Islamic State in Libya, the Ministry of External Affairs said today. The town is about 500 kilometres from the capital city of Tripoli. ALSO READ: AP govt urges Swaraj to take steps for release of Indians Of the 4 Indians 'detained', two are from Hyderabad, one from Raichur and one from Bengaluru, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed. On July 29 at 11 pm, while returning to India via Tripoli and Tunis, they were detained at a checkpoint approximate 50 kilometres from Sirte. All of them were later brought back to Sirte. Three of the four Indians are faculty members at the Sirte University and the fourth person works at the university branch in Jufra. The spokesperson added that the ministry is in regular touch with the families and will ensure all efforts to bring them back to India. Large swathes in Iraq and Syria are currently under the control of the Islamic State, which aims to create a Muslim caliphate across the region. Conflict rages in both countries with US, UK and several other countries engaged in air strikes to stop the march of the Islamic State.
