All 105 Indians evacuated from Kyrgyz cities

New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) All the 105 Indians, stranded in
violence-hit Southern Kyrgyz towns of Osh and Jalal-Abad, have
been evacuated to capital Bishkek and will return to India in
the next few days as the death toll in five days of ethnic
clashes climbed to 124.
Noting that a number of Indian nationals, primarily
students, were stranded in southern Kyrgyzstan due to civil
disturbances, the spokesperson of External Affairs Ministry
Vishnu Prakash said "despite the heavy odds, the Embassy of
India in Bishkek, in close coordination and support of the
Kyrgyz authorities, managed to safely evacuate all the
Indian nationals to Bishkek late last night (Monday)."
Asked about the discrepancy about the number of Indians
who were safely rescued as the Ministry Monday had given a
figure of 116 Indians stranded, the sources said it was based
on the initial assessment which included some Bangladeshis and
Nepalese nationals also.
Prakash said the Embassy has arranged for hostel
accommodation and meals as possible under the circumstances
for them in Bishkek.
"Some of the students have lost their passports. Our
Mission will issue new passports and other travel documents as
required in such cases. While some of the students want to
stay on at Bishkek, some others would like to return to India.
The Mission was making efforts to ensure that the
students travel to India over the next few days by commercial
or chartered flights which are operating normally in and out
of Bishkek, he said adding the Indian Embassy in Bishkek has
worked hard to assist the Indian nationals in distress and
continues to extend all possible assistance to them.
According to Kyrgyz officials, 124 people have died
and 1,685 people injured in the clashes since last week.
However, ethnic Uzbeks alleged many more have been killed and
accused government forces of helping Kyrgyz mobs in their
deadly rampage.
On whether a travel advisory will be issued, sources said
"we are following the situation very closely and there is
normalcy in cities like Bishkek."
The interim government, which took over after Kurmanbek
Bakiyev was ousted by a public revolt in April, has been
unable to stop the violence and has accused the former
President's family of instigating it.
Uzbeks have backed the interim government, while many
Kyrgyz in the south have supported the ousted nation head.
From his self-imposed exile in Belarus, Bakiyev denied
any role in the violence and blamed interim authorities for
failing to protect the people. PTI PYK
KAB


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