Seventeen Indian nationals, who were stuck in Libya under the captivity of a mafia for the last 6 months, returned to India on Sunday.

They were reportedly liberated from Tripoli Jail in Libya.

These individuals had found themselves trapped in Libya after being duped by deceptive travel agents who had enticed them with promises of employment opportunities in Italy, reports India Today.

Giving an update on the rescue of the nationals, the Embassy of India to Tunisia and Libya tweeted: "The Embassy of India to Libya successfully repatriated 17 Indian Nationals from Punjab and Haryana (on 19 August 2023), who were detained in Libya since February 2023. The Indians safely reached India on 20 August 2023 by Gulf Air flight at 2030 hrs."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar appreciated the Embassy and wrote on X: "Good work @IndiainTunisia."

"Modi Government’s strengthening of the Indian Community Welfare Fund is particularly useful on such occasions," he said.

Speaking to India Today, Rahul Sharma, a victim, said: "Four months ago I went to Libya but later we were sold to Libi as bound labourers. We used to work for hours without food and water or survive on a single piece of bread for two days. Toilet and drinking were in the same place.”