Mother of ISIS-escaped Indian prays for his safe return

The mother of the Indian national Harjit Masih, who escaped captivity after being held by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIS) militants, on Friday, stated that she is praying for the safe return of her son.

"I pray that my child and all the others [abducted Indians in Iraq] return soon safely. I don't want anything from the Indian Government. I just hope that my child returns home soon," Shinder Masih told ANI.

Expressing her happiness over listening about her son's good health and safety, Shinder added that she doesn't want any job but only her child to be safe. She also denied reports of her son converting to Islam.

"I have not heard any such news that he has converted to Islam. He talked to me on the phone, assuring his safety. He also said that he will return in a month but didn't mention any particular date," Masih said.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed that Harjit was under the government's protection.

"Harjit is under the government's protection as his life is in danger, but I can assure you that he is safe," Swaraj said.

Swaraj further stated that reports aired by a television channel, which suggested that the 40 Indians who went missing in Iraq in June had been killed by ISIS militants, were untrue and unfounded.

She also assured that the government is actively involved in locating the missing Indians, however admitting that there was no proof of whether the missing Indians were dead or alive.

Around 40 Indian nationals, who were employed by a construction company in Baghdad were kidnapped after Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, fell to the ISIS.

Harjit had earlier this year escaped from the clutches of the dreaded terror group.