87 Haryana youths stranded in Iraq

Total 87 people from Haryana, mostly young men, are stranded in strife-torn Iraq, a government spokesman said Friday.

The Haryana government has given the list on the basis of information made available by their families. Twenty-four of them were from Yamunanagar district, while 20 are from Kurukshetra, 18 from Ambala and 16 from Karnal, among other districts.

Officials here said there is no information that any person from Haryana has been taken hostage by Sunni insurgents in Iraq.

Over 40 Indians, mostly from Punjab, were kidnapped by the insurgents June 11.

The Punjab government has released a list of 78 people who are missing, taken hostage or stranded in Iraq. Most are construction or skilled workers.

Families of those stuck or missing in Iraq are a worried lot and have appealed to the respective state governments and the central government to get these people released.