PTI
NEW DELHI, May 16: Four Indian workers of a private oil company have been kidnapped in Sudan suspectedly by some local gang.
The four, P K Abhilash, Mohd Aseeb Shaikh, Biplab Biswas and Surjeet Singh, were abducted on Tuesday evening in oil-rich Heglig area in southern Sudan.
Negotiations are underway with the abductors through various channels, Indian Ambassador to Sudan Deepak Vohra said over phone from Khartoum.
"They are expected to be released soon," he said without giving any further details.
He, however, said the hostages are unharmed and in good condition.
Media reports said the kidnapping could be the handiwork of some dissatisfied locals, who are unhappy at the benefits of oil resources not reaching them.
Darfur rebels, who often target oil workers in Sudan, have claimed that they have not kidnapped the Indians.