Indian killed in Libya a car crash victim: MEA

India’s external affairs ministry said on Tuesday an Indian from Tamil Nadu who died in violence-racked Libya was a victim of a road accident and not the uprising and government crackdown on the protesters.

The Embassy of India, Tripoli has conveyed that the Indian national, Mr. Murugaiah, met with a car accident and succumbed to his wounds later in a medical centre.

“As such the story of Mr. Murugaiah ?s death being a result of firing appears to be incorrect,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a note.

Narrating the incident, it said: “During the night of Saturday, 19th February, a group comprising of three Indians and two Egyptians were trying to cross over to Egypt by car from Tobruk (city in northeastern Libya).

“Their car met with a head on collision resulting in all three Indians receiving serious injuries.

“They were admitted to Al Vatnam Medical Center in Tobruk. A number of Indian nurses are presently also working at the Center. Mr. Murugaiah reportedly succumbed to his injuries yesterday.”

The other Indian nationals are still in the hospital and recuperating, the MEA note said.

The Mission is in regular touch with the Medical Center, it said.

Many were killed in fresh violence and a government crackdown in Libya since Sunday even as protest against the rule of Muammar Gaddafi in the north African nation intensified.

According to Al Jazeera, at least 61 were killed on Monday alone after earlier reports of over 200 deaths. There were reports that helicopters fired on protesters.

Reports said while warplanes and helicopters fired on the masses, the protesters have taken control of many cities and towns.

While there are uncorroborated reports that Gaddafi has left capital Tripoli for Venezuela, top diplomats of Libya are defecting.

Accusing the government of unleashing a genocide, Libya’s deputy permanent representative to the UN has urged Col Gaddafi to step down.

Ibrahim Dabbashi in New York said: ?We are sure that what is going on now in Libya is crimes against humanity and crimes of war.?

He said the Libyans will get rid of Gaddafi ultimately.