Kidnapped Indian rescued in Kabul
NEW DELHI: An Indian aid worker who was kidnapped in Afghanistan last month has been rescued and will reach New Delhi on Saturday evening, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.
“I am happy to inform you that Judith D’Souza has been rescued,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Hailing from Kolkata, Judith, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Network, was seized by gunmen on 9 June in the Qalae-Fatullah area of Kabul while she was returning home after dinner at a friend’s place.
Appreciating Ambassador Manpreet Vohra for “an outstanding job”, Swaraj said: “I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening. Ambassador @VohraManpreet is accompanying her.”
Swaraj thanked ambassador Vohra Manpreet and Afghanistan for the support.
In her tweet she added: “Thank you Afghanistan - for all your help and support in rescuing Judith.”
Judith was working with the NGO as a senior technical adviser since July 2015.
Suicide bombers hit a large demonstration by members of Afghanistan’s Hazara minority in Kabul on Saturday, killing at least 61 people and wounding 142, officials said.
Graphic television footage from the site of the blasts showed many dead bodies lying on the bloodied road, close to where thousands of Hazara had been demonstrating over the route of a planned multimillion dollar power line.
Mohammad Ismail Kawousi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Public Health, said at least 61 dead and 142 wounded had been taken to nearby hospitals but the numbers may change. It was not immediately clear how many bombs were involved in the attack.
Emergency vehicles were at the site and wounded were being carried away.
Much of the city centre had