Relatives of the three Indian hostages freed in Iraq yesterday rejoiced and thanked the captors for releasing their dear ones.

The three truckers -- Tilak Raj, Sukhdev Singh and Antaryami -- were kidnapped along with an Egyptian and three Kenyan colleagues by an Iraqi group called the Holders of the Black Banners on July 21.

They will be returning home on Friday.

The Indian government expressed relief, saying its efforts had paid off.

Relatives of one of the Indian hostage, Antaryami, danced with joy in the tiny village of Dehlon and thanked the governments of India and Kuwait and the Kuwaiti Gulf Link company, the transport firm which had employed the truck drivers.

They even thanked the captors for showing mercy towards their sons.

An elated father of Sukhdev Singh said, "The release of the hostages is a gift of the Guru Granth Sahib."

Photograph: AFP/Getty Images