Secure safety of Indian nurses in Iraq: Jayalaltihaa to Modi

Chennai, June 19 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's personal intervention to secure safety of 46 Indian nurses, including six from the state, trapped in Iraq.

In a letter to Modi, text of which was released to the media here, Jayalalithaa said six of the 46 nurses - Sini, Sili, Simi, Aleena, Neethu and Maneetha - are from the state's Nilgiri district.

"Their families are extremely anxious about the safety of these young nurses. These nurses are innocent bystanders, rendering valuable service to the health system of Iraq."

"India and the international community at large are duty bound to ensure their safety and to provide them a safe passage back to their homeland," she said.

"Hence, I would be grateful if you could kindly intervene personally and take up the matter at the highest level in Iraq and with other international agencies, including the United Nations and the Red Crescent, to secure the safety and security of the Indian nurses, including the six from Tamil Nadu and arrange for their safe passage back to India," she wrote in the letter.