WION Exclusive: Badush jail 'destroyed', fate of 39 Indians missing in Mosul still uncertain

New Delhi, Delhi, India

The fate of thirty-nine Indians missing in Mosul is still uncertain, WION's correspondent  Daniele Pagani who has been on the ground at Mosul for the past week reports that the jail where the Indians were believed to be held has been leveled to the ground.

India's junior external affairs minister VK Singh in a tweet on July 12 had said he had visited the Peshmarga frontline in Mosul area to find out information about Indians held by ISIS, however, the minister was unable to find concrete evidence of the presence of Indians in the region.

The tweet read: "Visited Peshmarga frontline in Mosul area to seek information on Indians held by ISIS. Peshmerga still clearing ISIS held areas." The message was retweeted by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj later.

On Sunday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had said the Indians may have been hauled up in a jail in Badush in northwest Mosul, however, WION correspondent Daniele reporting from Badush said the prison has been "destroyed".

Sushma Swaraj had added that Iraqi's foreign minister Ibrahim Al Jaafari may bring fresh information about the missing Indians when he visits India on July 24.

The relatives of the thirty-nine missing Indians have been anxiously waiting for some good news and have been in touch with India's foreign ministry.