<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of the 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul.<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">PM announces ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of those killed in Iraq's Mosul. <a href="https://t.co/SE0fck0H34">pic.twitter.com/SE0fck0H34</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/981066152968409088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The announcement comes amid a clamour by Opposition parties including the Congress for compensation to the kin of those killed in Iraq.</p>

<p>Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier announced a Rs five lakh ex-gratia compensation for the family members of those who lost their lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Asked whether the families of the 39 Indians who died in Iraq would be provided jobs or compensation, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said yesterday that the issue was not like distributing biscuits.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had said,&nbsp;"The issue is not about distributing biscuits, it is about the life of people, did you understand".</p>

<p>VK Singh had brought back the bodies of 38 Indians who were killed yesterday.</p>

<p>The Indians had gone missing when the Islamic State overran Mosul in 2014. The Indian government launched a massive search operation along with the Iraqi government.</p>

<p>Foreign Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had announced in Parliament last month that the Indian government had found the mortal remains of the Indians.</p>


The announcement comes amid a clamour by Opposition parties including the Congress for compensation to the kin of those killed in Iraq

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of the 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul. PM announces ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to families of those killed in Iraq's Mosul. pic.twitter.com/SE0fck0H34 — ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2018 × The announcement comes amid a clamour by Opposition parties including the Congress for compensation to the kin of those killed in Iraq. Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier announced a Rs five lakh ex-gratia compensation for the family members of those who lost their lives. Asked whether the families of the 39 Indians who died in Iraq would be provided jobs or compensation, Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh said yesterday that the issue was not like distributing biscuits. He had said, "The issue is not about distributing biscuits, it is about the life of people, did you understand". VK Singh had brought back the bodies of 38 Indians who were killed yesterday. The Indians had gone missing when the Islamic State overran Mosul in 2014. The Indian government launched a massive search operation along with the Iraqi government. Foreign Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had announced in Parliament last month that the Indian government had found the mortal remains of the Indians.

PM Modi announces Rs 10 lakh compensation for families of Indians killed in Iraq

<p>The mortal remains of 38 out of 39 Indians, who were killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, are due to reach India late today.<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> MoS Mea VK Singh and other officials carry the mortal remains of the 38 Indians, which are being brought back to India from Iraq. Visuals from Baghdad airport (Source: VK Singh) <a href="https://t.co/rQwVuOfnib">pic.twitter.com/rQwVuOfnib</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/980669229165961217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh, who is overseeing the entire process of bringing back the bodies, left for Mosul on Sunday. He said that one man's remains would not be brought as his case was still pending.</p>

<p>On his return to India, VK Singh will travel to Amritsar and Patna to hand over the mortal remains to the respective families of the victims.</p>

<p>On March 20, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha members in the Parliament that the 39 Indian nationals, who went missing in Mosul in 2014, were killed by the IS.</p>

<p>The 39 persons, most of whom hailed from Punjab, were working on projects near Mosul when they were kidnapped.<br />
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On his return to India, VK Singh will travel to Amritsar and Patna to hand over the mortal remains to the respective families of the victims

The mortal remains of 38 out of 39 Indians, who were killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, are due to reach India late today. #WATCH MoS Mea VK Singh and other officials carry the mortal remains of the 38 Indians, which are being brought back to India from Iraq. Visuals from Baghdad airport (Source: VK Singh) pic.twitter.com/rQwVuOfnib — ANI (@ANI) April 2, 2018 × Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh, who is overseeing the entire process of bringing back the bodies, left for Mosul on Sunday. He said that one man's remains would not be brought as his case was still pending. On his return to India, VK Singh will travel to Amritsar and Patna to hand over the mortal remains to the respective families of the victims. On March 20, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj informed the Rajya Sabha members in the Parliament that the 39 Indian nationals, who went missing in Mosul in 2014, were killed by the IS. The 39 persons, most of whom hailed from Punjab, were working on projects near Mosul when they were kidnapped.

Bodies of 38 Indians killed in Iraq to be brought back to India today

<p>The sister of Manjinder Singh, who was among the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/39-indians-missing-in-iraq-dead-sushma-swaraj-36459">39 Indians killed by the Islamic State</a> in Iraq, said today that the that no information was given to their family about the deaths by the government and they first heard the news when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj made the announcement in Parliament.</p>

<p>Gurpinder Kaur also said that the external affairs ministry had been telling her that the Indians were alive for the last four years.</p>

<p>&quot;For past four years, the External Affairs Ministry was telling me that they were alive, don&#39;t know what to believe anymore.I am waiting to speak with her, no information was given to us,we heard her statement she made in Parliament,&quot; Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh, told ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The brother of an Indian national who was killed in Iraq said that his DNA test was conducted two times but no information was provided.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We had got information that that my brother was abducted by terrorists, after that nothing was know about his whereabouts. My DNA test was done twice, but we received no information: Brother of an Indian national who was killed in Iraq&#39;s Mosul <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jalandhar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jalandhar</a> <a href="https://t.co/rouCGmxInt">pic.twitter.com/rouCGmxInt</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975998709992390657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The wife of another slain worker said that the government had always told them that the Indian nationals were alive.<br />
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My husband went to Iraq in 2011&amp;I spoke to him last on 15 June&#39;14. We were always told us that they were alive. We don&#39;t demand anything from the government: Manjeet Kaur wife of Davinder Singh, who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq&#39;s Mosul <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Jalandhar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Jalandhar</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vq983kCkSb">pic.twitter.com/Vq983kCkSb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976009807051321345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that the news should have been announced earlier since the government must have known about the deaths since earlier.</p>

<p>&quot;We had expected this, it should have been announced earlier, it was known since much earlier,&quot; the Punjab chief minister said.</p>

<p>Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also questioned the reason for the delay in the announcement of the news. He said the government should not have given &quot;high hopes&quot; to the families of the Indians.</p>

<p>&quot;This is saddening for every Indian, rest I would ask why was this information delayed by the government, they should tell how it happened, when they died. Also, the way govt gave high hopes to the families was not right,&quot; Shashi Tharoor said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh, however, said that the opposition was taking things the wrong way. He said seeing the situation in Iraq, the chances of the Indians being alive seemed bleak.</p>

<p>&quot;It is the job of the opposition to take things the wrong way. I do not want to say anything about it,&quot; VK Singh said, adding that legal procedures were undeway and might take eight to 10 days.</p>

<p>&quot;There was hope, but then seeing the situation there chances of them being alive seemed slim. Legal procedures are underway there and might take eight to 10 days, we are waiting for them to complete.&quot;</p>

<p>General VK Singh also said that &quot;different news was coming from different angles&quot; which is why an effort was made to verify facts before going there and consequently DNA matching was done. He said that the external affairs minister had stated earlier that until there was strong proof of the deaths, she would not inform the house.</p>

<p>&quot;Different news came from different angles, hence an effort was made to verify facts by going there, then DNA matching was done. External Affairs Minister had earlier stated that until there is strong proof of their death she will not inform the house: MoS MEA, VK Singh on death of 39 Indians in Mosul<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Gurpinder Kaur said her family first heard the news when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj made the announcement in Parliament.

The sister of Manjinder Singh, who was among the 39 Indians killed by the Islamic State in Iraq, said today that the that no information was given to their family about the deaths by the government and they first heard the news when external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj made the announcement in Parliament. Gurpinder Kaur also said that the external affairs ministry had been telling her that the Indians were alive for the last four years. "For past four years, the External Affairs Ministry was telling me that they were alive, don't know what to believe anymore.I am waiting to speak with her, no information was given to us,we heard her statement she made in Parliament," Gurpinder Kaur, sister of Manjinder Singh, told ANI. The brother of an Indian national who was killed in Iraq said that his DNA test was conducted two times but no information was provided. We had got information that that my brother was abducted by terrorists, after that nothing was know about his whereabouts. My DNA test was done twice, but we received no information: Brother of an Indian national who was killed in Iraq's Mosul #Jalandhar pic.twitter.com/rouCGmxInt — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × The wife of another slain worker said that the government had always told them that the Indian nationals were alive. My husband went to Iraq in 2011&I spoke to him last on 15 June'14. We were always told us that they were alive. We don't demand anything from the government: Manjeet Kaur wife of Davinder Singh, who was among 39 Indians killed in Iraq's Mosul #Jalandhar pic.twitter.com/Vq983kCkSb — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that the news should have been announced earlier since the government must have known about the deaths since earlier. "We had expected this, it should have been announced earlier, it was known since much earlier," the Punjab chief minister said. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also questioned the reason for the delay in the announcement of the news. He said the government should not have given "high hopes" to the families of the Indians. "This is saddening for every Indian, rest I would ask why was this information delayed by the government, they should tell how it happened, when they died. Also, the way govt gave high hopes to the families was not right," Shashi Tharoor said. Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh, however, said that the opposition was taking things the wrong way. He said seeing the situation in Iraq, the chances of the Indians being alive seemed bleak. "It is the job of the opposition to take things the wrong way. I do not want to say anything about it," VK Singh said, adding that legal procedures were undeway and might take eight to 10 days. "There was hope, but then seeing the situation there chances of them being alive seemed slim. Legal procedures are underway there and might take eight to 10 days, we are waiting for them to complete." General VK Singh also said that "different news was coming from different angles" which is why an effort was made to verify facts before going there and consequently DNA matching was done. He said that the external affairs minister had stated earlier that until there was strong proof of the deaths, she would not inform the house. "Different news came from different angles, hence an effort was made to verify facts by going there, then DNA matching was done. External Affairs Minister had earlier stated that until there is strong proof of their death she will not inform the house: MoS MEA, VK Singh on death of 39 Indians in Mosul

We were not told, only heard from Sushma speech in Parliament: Families of Indians killed in Iraq