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They are reportedly university teachers who were abducted from Sirte town near Tripoli on Thursday evening.

"We came to know at 11 pm that four Indian nationals who were returning to India via Tripoli were detained at a checkpoint approximately 50 km from Sirte," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
 

"According to our sources all four were brought back to Sirte. We are in regular touch with their families and all efforts are being made to ensure their early release," Swarup added.

Foreign Ministry officials also informed that no ransom demand has been made yet. 

Reports said the area from where the Indians were kidnapped is under the control of the Islamic State, which has captured a vast expanse of Iraq and Syria to establish a caliphate.

In Iraq 39 Indians have been missing from the last year after they were kidnapped at the height of the fighting between Islamic militants and government forces.