Una/Morinda, September 2
The countdown has begun for the reunion. Family members of the three Indian hostages, Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh, who were yesterday released by militants in Iraq, left for Delhi to receive them following information from the Ministry of External Affairs, today.
The Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Ashok Amrohi, informed the family members of the hostages that they would be expected to reach Delhi airport from Kuwait tomorrow morning. The ministry has made all arrangements for the hostages’ families to reach Delhi.
Antaryami’s father Ram Murti, along with 14 other relatives, Tilak Raj’s wife, Promila, along with three children and relatives accompanied by the Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Mukesh Agnihotri, and the SDM, Mr Sanjay Sharma, left for Delhi.
Meanwhile from Makrona village in Ropar district Sukhdev’s father Sher Singh, brother Harvinder Singh and uncle Gurdev Singh accompanied by Morinda DSP Sukhvinder
Singh Gill, the Tehsildar and the BDO, Chamkor Sahib, left for Delhi in the evening.
TNS adds from Delhi:
Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed will go to the IGI Airport here early tomorrow to personally receive the three released hostages —
Antaryami, Tilak Raj
and Sukhdev Singh — who are arriving here at 5 am.
The Minister has also organised a dinner for the media where the released hostages and their family members are also likely to be present.
Incidentally, the Crisis Management Group (CMG) met today without a crisis to deal with. The CMG, headed by Mr Ahamed, held daily meetings during the 42-day-long hostage crisis.
Today’s
meeting was mainly for record and a photo opportunity for the members,
Mr Ahamed told The Tribune, at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr Ahamed
formally dissolved the CMG.
