Parents of Kerala nurses in ISIS captivity blame Indian embassy

Mangalore Today News Network

Kochi, July 4, 2014: As the situation in Iraq gets more tense, parents and relatives of Kerala nurses stranded in Iraq are waiting and praying for the safe return of their dear ones.

PA Jose and Mariyamma Jose, parents of Marina M Jose, a nurse from Kottayam in Kerala.

Kottayam-based Chakiriyamthadathil Joseph, 56, and his wife Selin, 48, whose three daughters are in Iraq, are in tears.

Their 24-year-old twin daughters Sona and Veena are now in the captivity of ISIS in an old building near Aljihari General Hospital in Mosul in Iraq.


They were taken into the custody by the rebels on Thursday from Tikrit Teaching Hospital and transported in a bus to Mosul along with 44 other Malayalaee nurses.

His elder daughter Dona is also a working in Iraq as a nurse in Alsafama hospital.

"My daughter called me last at 10 pm on Thursday. Sona told me they reached Mosul along with others and the rebels gave them biscuits and water during the journey. Since then, her mobile phone is switched off," an inconsolable Joseph told

Another parent, Sasi Kumar, based in Kottayam in Kerala, whose daughter Sruthi S. Kumar, is also in the captivity of ISIS in Mosul, says his daughter called him at 10.30 pm on Thursday.

"I have no contact with Sruthi after that. My daughter told me that the rebels insisted her to switch off her mobile after the conversation. She said she and all the 45 other nurses were kept in a ward in a Mosul hospital. She said that it was an old building with no basic facilities. She told me that the people were not given food till that time," Sasikumar told IndiaToday.in.

Joseph told IndiaToday.in that his daughter Sona told him that two of the nurses were injured in a bomb blast while trying board the bus to Mosul.

"She told me there was only one doctor and three patients in the Tikrit hospital when rebels took them into captivity. They don’t know what happened to those people. The militants told them that staying in Tikirt hospital is unsafe as it may be destroyed by Iraqi army any time. Sona told me the rebels were polite towards them but I could hear the sound of some of the nurses weeping over her conversation," said Joseph.

P.A. Jose, father of Marina M. Jose, 38, of Kottayam told IndiaToday.in that his daughter called him on Thursday evening.

"She said she got just a biscuit to eat during her travel from Tikirt to Mosul. Embassy officials are irresponsible in rescuing the people stranded there. It is because of their negligence my daughter is now in the hands of militants. Can they assure the safety of my daughter?" said Jose.

P. Sudeep, CEO of Norka-Roots, a wing of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department, told IndiaToday.in that he too has no information other than what appears in the media regarding the whereabouts of these nurses.

Marina M Jose (third from left) with her relatives.

MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin on Thursday told the media in New Delhi that the nurses were advised by the ministry to proceed as directed by the militants as there were no other options before them as the area was not under Iraqi government control.

He said this decision was taken in consultation with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.