2016-07-23 16:23:00

Judith D’Souza, Indian Charity Worker Kidnapped In Kabul, Rescued


Judith D'Souza, an Indian woman kidnapped last month from Kabul in Afghanistan, has been rescued, The Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has said. "I am happy to inform you that Judith D'Souza has been rescued," Ms Swaraj tweeted Saturday morning.

40-year-old Judith, a Catholic from Kolkata, who works for Agha Khan Foundation - an international NGO - as a senior technical adviser since July 2015, was kidnapped on June 9 this year, by suspected terrorists right outside her office in the area of Qala-e-Fatullah, the heart of Kabul.

Ms Swaraj said that Judith is safe and will reach Delhi Saturday evening. She also tweeted praise for Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra for his efforts to secure Judith's release.

Investigators no longer believe it was not a terrorist group behind the kidnapping but a racket that kidnaps foreigners and frees them in exchange for a ransom. It is not known if any sum was paid for Judith D'Souza’s release.

Family members, who had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to do everything possible for her release, have expressed their joy with a tweet by Judith's brother, Jerome: " Judith has been rescued by the government. Our family's joy knows no bounds. Gratitude to @PMOIndia @SushmaSwaraj @VohraManpreet [Indian ambassador to Afghanistan] ".

"We are thankful to the Indian government for the rescue of our sister. We are now waiting for her to be back home. We would request the media to respect our privacy," Judith's sister Agnes told PTI.

PM Modi had requested Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to expedite efforts to secure Judith's release.

The Archbishop of Calcutta, Msgr. Thomas D'Souza had also mobilized people for the young woman’s release, and many Catholics had sent appeals to the government and had organized prayer vigils.

 

Related report: 

Charity worker from Kolkata kidnapped in Afghanistan

 








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