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UN, Libyan factions deplore car bombing in Benghazi
Tripoli, May 25 (IANS/AKI) The United Nations mission in Libya on Friday strongly condemned the “ruthless” car bomb blast in the eastern city of Benghazi that killed at least seven people including a toddler, warning that such attacks are possible war crimes.
“This week has seen a series of ruthless attacks in Libya,” the UNSMIL mission said in a statement.
“UNSMIL maintains that there is no justification whatsoever for such attacks, which may amount to war crimes, and that those who have organised and enabled this attack must be brought to justice and held to account.”
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which targeted a populous residential area.
The car bomb exploded late Thursday behind the city’s largest hotel, Tibetsi, on a busy market street selling mostly Syrian produce, and besides those killed, 20 other people were injured, Al-Jazeera reported.
“The Mission stands in solidarity with the people of Libya in resisting attempts to spread fear, intimidation and hatred,” UNSMIL said, adding that it was committed to peace in the war-wracked country through a “Libyan-led” and “inclusive” political process.
A twin car bombing killed at least 35 people in Benghazi in January and left more than 50 others wounded. Ahmad al-Fituri, a security official for military strongman Khalifa Haftar’s forces, was among those killed.
Forces loyal to Haftar took control of Benghazi in 2017, after a three-year campaign against rival armed groups. The fighting has left large areas of the port city in ruins.
The Tripoli-based Presidential Council and the eastern-based Tobruk parliament on Friday deplored the “cowardly” car bombing in the port city of Benghazi in which at least seven people died and 20 were injured.
The Presidential Council – which has the function of head of state in Libya – said such crimes “will increase the Libyan people’s determination to fight terrorism throughout the country”.
Benghazi city council also condemned the blast, which took place in a busy market street in a populous area of the city.
Authorities in eastern Libya said it was a “terrorist car bomb explosion carried out by sleeper cells,” the Libyan Observer reported on its website. But the paper cited locals as saying the blast was caused by a quarrel between rival militants in which a hand-grenade was thrown in to a notorious militiaman’s ammunition-packed car, killing him and his brother.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing.
–IANS/AKI
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.