NEW DELHI (TIP): India was informed by “eight different sources” that 39 citizens of the country abducted in Iraq 11 months ago were still alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on May 14.

Swaraj, who had a meeting with members of the families of the hostages, dismissed media reports claiming that the Indians abducted by Islamic State militants at Mosul in northern Iraq in June 2014 had been killed. The media-reports quoted Harjit Masih, who was among the hostages, but managed to flee, telling journalists that all others abducted by the IS had been killed. “We are not sparing any efforts to find them. We are hopeful that we will be able to find them and bring them back home. I have eight different sources who are saying they are alive,” Swaraj said.

She assured the families of the hostages that the government was making sincere efforts for the safe and early release of the Indian workers.She said she had earlier personally spoken to her counterparts in the countries.