Indian nurses stranded in Tikrit on razor edge

Indian nurses stranded in the Iraqi city of Tikrit are on a razor edge as fierce fighting continued between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) and government troops swooped in by helicopters.

Baghdad claimed the Iraqi Air Force killed 12 Isil gunmen in an air strike on a building in Tikrit. “Iraqi Air Force helicopters launched an air strike on a building where Isil elements were barricaded, killing 12 gunmen, including four prominent leaders, two of whom were Arab gunmen who entered Iraq in April from Syria,” Ministry of Defence spokesman Maj-Gen. Mohammed Al Askari said on Thursday.

A view of the Tikrit stadium around which fierce fighting continues between Isil militants and government troops. — Supplied photo

The air strike destroyed weapons and ammunition in the building, Maj-Gen. Al Askari said, crediting local residents with providing information that led to the success of the operation.

Battles raged in around Tikrit University, which is a short distance from the teaching hospital where the 46 Indian nurses have been living like prisoners since the militants seized the city, hometown of slain dictator Saddam Hussein.

One of the nurses said the deafening noise of the flying machines was frightening. “Bombs exploded throughout Wednesday night and Thursday. There were periodic blasts on Thursday night too.”

“Our belief that we would ever be safe inside the hospital proved to be a myth as a bomb landed inside the hospital compound, closer to the mortuary. It was a hysterical experience,” she said.

Helicopters were shot at as they flew low over the city and landed in a stadium at the university, a security source told Reuters. Fierce clashes ensued, centred around the university compound and continued on Friday.

The nurse said sound of fierce gun battles echoed throughout Friday morning, ahead of a reported full-scale assault on the city.

An officer told AFP Iraqi forces continued their battle to seize control of the strategically located university, which is on the way to a military base to the north of the city that have been overrun by the militants.

The police major said there were periodic clashes between security forces and insurgents at Tikrit University, and that the families of school employees living in the area were fleeing.

Baghdad claimed that a group of Isil militants escaped from Tikrit to Kirkuk due to the strikes and anticipatory operations of the security forces. It said Isil militants also stormed the governmental Agricultural Bank in central Tikrit city and stole seven billion dinars before fleeing.

The Indian nurses said the renewed fighting and India’s procrastination have killed off a proposed evacuation plan.

“We had informed our ambassador in Baghdad about the “militant” management’s offer of safe passage and to hand over us to Red Cross officials, but nothing came of that,” said one of the nurses Khaleej Times spoke to.

“We reminded him couple of times but he said he is awaiting some necessary signatures.”

The nurse said Red Cross officials who had asked for the number of people wanting to leave have not called back since.

“Are we destined to die here after fierce fighting resumed in our backyard?” she asked and broke down.

“The ball is clearly in India’s court. Days have passed after we received the safe passage offer, but there seems to be no progress.”

Sources in the chief minister’s office in Kerala, where the nurses come from, said there is complete standstill regarding the matter.

“We have no further communication from the central government, except the routine press statement that the nurses are safe, which we also know because we call them everyday.

“The chief minister talked to the nurses on hearing a bomb had fallen in the hospital compound. He also called a couple of parents here to console them,” the official said, adding the issue has unfortunately died down in the media.

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