‘They Want India in Their Grip’: Indian Doctor Rescued From ISIS

Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam recounts the story of his abduction in Libya by ISIS in 2015 and the two years that followed.

ISIS members abducted Dr Ramamurthy Komasam in Libya in 2015. (Photo: AP)

Ramamurthy Kosanam, a doctor from Eluru, Andhra Pradesh was working as a general physician at the Lbn-e-Sina Hospital at Sirte, Libya in 2015 when a group of ISIS militants entered the hospital and kidnapped him, along with three other people.

He was recently released by the terrorist group and reached India on Saturday. Speaking to CNN News18 about his two years in captivity by ISIS, Kosanam said, “[ISIS] is a hardcore terrorist organisation. They want to spread [their influence] across the world and follow their [organisation’s] rules very strictly.”

He was freed as a result of rigorous negotiation done by the Indian government, personally overseen by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Komasam said he was grateful for the hard work put in and “would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.”

Was He Tortured?

Doctor Ramamurthy was abducted by ISIS and jailed for one year. Then, he was forced to treat senior leaders of the organisation for two years in their hospitals. When he explained to them that he only held an MBBS degree and was not trained in surgery, they disregarded him and forced him to operate on their casualties, including the top boss and the health in-charge of the organisation.

They orally tortured us. They showed us terrible mutilation videos. They forced us to see their gory activities. They didn’t beat us up. They questioned us very forcefully and talked to us roughly. But in front of our eyes, they have beaten up other prisoners. 

Dr Ramamurthy Kosanam

ISIS’ Impression of India

When asked whether he was privy to any information which might suggest there was a danger to India or what the organisations’ outlook towards India was, Kosanam said, “They like India so much. They just want to take India into the organisation’s grip in some way or the other.”

According to Kosanam, the terrorist organisation is very impressed by the development in India’s education and healthcare system and is keen on “taking it into its own hands.”