25 years ago, Swedish engineers were kidnapped...

Today, 25 years ago on 31^st March, 1991,  two Swedish engineers, Jan Olle Loman and Johann Jansson, working for the Uri Civil Hydro-Electric Power Project, in Kashmir, were kidnapped by members of the Muslim Janbaaz Force. Jansson’s wife and daughter, were part of the group, on their way to Gulmarg for skiing when they were stopped and kidnapped. Jansson’s wife and daughter were dropped in Beeru, unharmed.

Contrary to the official statement of their escape from captivity, they were released on ransom after 97 days.

This picture was taken on board the Indian Airlines flight out of Srinagar on their release on 6^th July, 1991.

I was working for Business India Magazine and was on a semi-official visit home. My connections in the Valley gave me a head start on the date of release and the flight they would take out of Srinagar.  Apparently, they were taken directly to the Srinagar airport from the point of their release. Local authorities were not allowed to interact with them by officials of the Swedish Embassy.

Despite a full flight, I was able to manage a ticket for myself, and also a seat in front of their row. I had to just get up and click, which I did. This for the first time pictures related to this incident are being put in the public domain.

Both of them look relieved, and under instructions from their embassy to not to speak to anyone, especially the press. However, one of them asked me how I managed to be on the same flight and in front of them.

The embassy officials, however, restricted the number of pictures taken. Fortunately, my camera was not ceased or the film roll taken.

The photograph is of less-than desirable quality as the light inside the aircraft was low. Also, over a period of time the negative were damaged to some extent.

Rajesh Prothi