Mortal remains of 38 of the 39 Indians killed in war-torn Iraq were brought back in a special aircraft and handed over to their relatives or local authorities in Amritsar, Kolkata, and Patna. Minister of State for External Affairs, VK Singh, who brought back the bodies from Baghdad, said that the Indian Embassy had no record of the 40 Indians captured by terror group ISIS in Iraq in 2014, as they had gone through illegal travel agents. He said had the government had any information about these people being in danger, it would have rescued them as it had done in case of over 45 Indian nurses in 2014. He added that both, the state and central government should work together to stop gullible people from becoming victims of illegal travel agents.
27 of those brought back were from Punjab, four from Himachal Pradesh, and seven from West Bengal and Bihar. Punjab government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 Lakh each to the families of the Punjabis killed, and also a job each to one family member of the victims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 10 Lakh compensation each for families of the 39 Indians.
