The group holding three Indians and four others hostage in Iraq has reportedly given some more time to their employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company, to comply with its demands. However, the ministry of external affairs has not confirmed this development.
The group had on Saturday demanded that the company compensate the families of the Iraqis who died fighting American troops in Fallujah and that Iraqi prisoners in US and Kuwaiti jails be freed within the next 48 hours (Monday night India time).
Of the three Indian hostages, Tilak Raj is from Una district of Himachal Pradesh while Antaryami and Sukhdev Singh are from the neighbouring state of Punjab.
The crisis in Iraq is taking its toll on the family members of the three Indian hostages with the wife of one being hospitalised and the father of another snapping at newspersons.
On Sunday, Tilak Raj's wife Promilla was admitted to the district hospital in a serious condition. His aged mother Kishani Devi is reaching Una district to look after her grandchildren and daughter-in-law.
Residents of Antaryami's native Upper Delhan village blocked traffic on the Una-Ropar road to protest against the Indian government's failure to secure the release of the trio who were working as truck drivers.
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When newspersons approached his father who is camping in Delhi and sought to know the latest development, Ram Murthi lost his cool.
"What can I tell you? I have met everyone but nobody is able to give me any information about my son and the others who are being held in Iraq. Instead of you giving me information, you are asking me what is happening. You are making me restless," he said agitatedly.
Though a Gulf-based television network had aired a tape in which the announcement about the extension of the deadline was made, the ministry of external affairs on Monday said it is yet to get any official intimation about this development from Iraqi officials.