Libya evacuation: No charges from Indians, says government

NEW DELHI - The government Friday came out strongly against some unscrupulous elements who are trying to fleece Indians stranded in Libya and stressed that it is not charging its nationals who are being evacuated from the violence-torn North African country.

“It has come to notice that some unscrupulous elements are asking for payments/handling charges/facilitation fee etc., for arranging evacuation of Indian nationals, through the embassy of India in Libya, the external affairs ministry clarified.

“These activities are completely illegal and individuals engaged in them should be immediately reported to the law enforcement authorities, the ministry said.

“It is further emphasized that no payment or charge of any kind is being levied by the government, for the evacuation/assisted departure of any Indian national in Libya, the ministry added.

Amid grim forecasts of deteriorating violence in Libya, the Indian government has sent a ship from Egypt to Benghazi to ferry around 1,200 Indians and has also readied aircraft for evacuation from the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

More ships and aircraft are being readied to bring a large number of around 18,000 Indians who live in Libya, which has been hit by a wave of pro-democracy protests in the last fortnight.