39 missing Indians, kidnapped by ISIS, likely in Iraqi jail: Sushma

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said the 39 missing Indians, who were kidnapped by the Islamic State group in Iraq in 2014, are most probably in jail in a village where the Iraqi forces are still fighting the terror outfit, which is also known as ISIS.

"The day Iraq PM declared Mosul is liberated from ISIS, I asked VK Singh ji to go to Erbil," ANI quoted Swaraj as saying.

"Sources there told VK Singh ji that the missing Indians are most probably in a jail in Badush where fighting is still going on," she said.

Badush is located northwest of Mosul.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh travelled to Erbil, Iraq, on Monday to locate the 39 Indians.

Earlier this week, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay had said that authorities have assured it of all cooperation in locating the 39 Indian nationals. 

"Iraqi authorities have conveyed that all cooperation would be extended in this regard and instructions have been issued by them to all relevant Iraqi agencies for the same," Baglay had said.