Forty Indians were “uncontactable” in Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq, Government has said even as it decided to send former envoy to Iraq Suresh Reddy to strengthen the Indian Mission in Baghdad.

“There are 40 Indians in Mosul whom we have not been able to contact. Despite our best efforts at this stage... they remain uncontactable,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said today.

Asked about reports claiming that they were abducted, he said, “We cannot confirm it. However, they are uncontactable.”

He, at the same time, said there were no reports of any Indian being targeted or involved in any violent incident in Iraq.

“The violence there is not targeted at Indian nationals. We are just caught in the cross-fire. At this stage we have no reports, no confirmation of any Indian national being involved in any violent accident,” the spokesperson said.

In response to a request by the Indian embassy, International Red Crescent had contacted 46 Indian nurses in Tikrit and provided them assistance, he said.

Insurgent outfits have seized the two cities of Mosul and Tikrit.

The spokesperson said Reddy is being sent to Baghdad to strengthen the Indian Mission there which is trying to help the Indians in violence-affected areas.

“And we have decided to strengthen the embassy by sending a seasoned Indian diplomat Mr Suresh Reddy who will travel today to Baghdad to assist the embassy in its efforts,” Akbaruddin said.

Amid mounting concerns over the safety of Indians stranded in Iraq, India has set up a control room here to provide information to their families.

Following a direction from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, a “crisis management meeting” yesterday reviewed all aspects of the assistance that can be provided to the Indian nationals stuck in the country.

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