18-month agony ends for abducted doctor’s family

​Eluru: The 18-month agony has now come to an end for the family of 60-year-old Dr Kosanam Ramana Murthy of Dondapadu village in Eluru rural mandal, with his release from the clutches of terrorists in Libya.

Dr Ramana Murthy, who was kidnapped by an Islamic State (IS)-allied terror group from Ibn-e-Sina hospital in Sirte in Libya on September 15, 2015, was released safely, according to his family members. An employee of Indian Embassy in Libya, Rashid Khan, called up the family members on Tuesday to inform that Dr Murthy was safe with them.

Now the family is eagerly waiting in their house in Dondapadu for his homecoming. Following Ramana Murthy’s abduction in September, 2015, his wife Annapurna Bhavani, son Pavan and daughter Nirisha made several attempts through the MP and the MLA to secure his release.

However, as time passed, the focus on the case waned and it was the family which silently suffered with no piece of information on the fate of their family head.

They used to get occasional phone call or a letter from Ministry of External Affairs informing about efforts being made to secure his release. Dr Ramana Murthy had to continue to work in Libya despite the outbreak of the conflict because of the family's financial problems.

Doctor’s wife Annapurna Bhavani told The Hans India, “No one has helped us in knowing the whereabouts of my husband. We pleaded with all from top to bottom in the government hierarchy for help.

However, no action was taken, except a phone call from External Affairs Ministry assuring that he was safe. We have agonised for all these 18 months. We realised how important his presence among us. He had a bullet injury in the body at the time of kidnap, following an exchange of fire by militants and army personnel.