'Working day and night' to rescue Sikh hostages in Iraq: Govt

The Centre is "working day and night" to ensure the release of the 39 Sikhs who are being held hostage in Iraq, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Rajya Sabha today.
"There are 39 Sikhs (still) under captivity in Iraq. They are all from Punjab. We are working day and night to rescue them," Swaraj informed the Upper House during a short-duration debate on the Gaza situation.
India has so far rescued 46 nurses from the war-ravaged Gulf country while 40 other nationals have returned from Saudi Arabia, where they were languishing in jail despite having served their full jail term for protesting against their employer.

The family members of the Sikhs, believed to be held hostage by Islamist militants, had earlier met Swaraj with the minister having assured them that the government was taking all steps to evacuate the Indian nationals.