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Indian nurses trash advice, leave for Libya

Ignoring the advice given by the government of Kerala, eight nurses from the state went to strife-torn Libya on Thursday.

The Non-resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) department had advised the nurses, who came on leave, not to go to the north African country till the situation there improves. Without paying any heed to the request, the nurses who included a couple and a child left from Nedumbaserry International Airport on the wee hours of Friday.

Ernakulam Rural SP Sateesh Bino said that he had talked to the nurses about the situation in Libya and informed them that there were travel restrictions to go to country, where war is raging between the government force and the militia. They were also served a notice asking not to go.

However, the nurses told the police officer that they had been working there for more than 10 years in Libya and had left their certificates and other documents there and had no option but to go back. The nurses are working at a hospital in Bengazhi. The police came across the nurses while investigating reports regarding recruitment of a fresh batch of 200 nurses by a travel agency at Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district for working in various hospitals at Bengazhi and other parts of Libya.

The Indian embassy at Tripoli had recently written to Norka stating that the travel agency was planning to send 200 nurses on tourist visas and had asked state authorities not to allow them to come to Libya. Ernakulam Range IG M R Ajith Kumar is probing the matter on the orders of Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the government will not allow fresh recruits to go Libya. He said that he had instructed all concerned departments to prevent anybody from leaving the state. Chandy told reporters that the situation in Libya was worsening.

The chief minister said that most nurses working in Libya have returned by now. A few others still working there may also return if the situation does not improve. Chandy said that the government would rehabilitate the nurses who have returned from Libya. 58 Keralite nurses had returned from Libya through Kozhikode airport.

news@khaleejtimes.com