The Gulf dream of Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukdev Singh came to an abrupt end on July 21, when a group calling itself the 'Islamic Secret Army-Holders of Black Banners' in Iraq abducted them along with three Kenyans and an Egyptian.

The group threatened to behead the seven if Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Company, which employed them, did not pull out of Iraq. For over a month the group kept putting forth new demands and setting new deadlines.

Meanwhile, the Indian government used the goodwill it enjoyed in the Middle East and urged friendly Islamic nations to prevail upon the captors to release the hostages. India also opened channels for talks with the self-appointed negotiator of the militant group, Sheikh Hesham Al Dulaimi, a local tribal leader.

The hostages were finally released on September 1, and the three Indians returned to their homes in Haryana and Punjab, to a tumultuous welcome.

KGL officials later said they had paid one million dollars as ransom to the abductors.

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Photographs: STR/AFP/Getty Images