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Indian woman NGO worker abducted in Kabul,Government assures help
Kabul/Kolkata/New Delhi: An Indian woman, working with an international aid agency in Afghanistan, has been abducted from the volatile Kabul, her family and officials said on Friday.
Armed suspected Islamists seized Judith D’Souza, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Foundation as a senior technical advisor on gender issues in the Afghan capital, around Thursday midnight. It was not known who is responsible for the kidnapping or whether a ransom was sought for her release.
Her family told reporters in her home city of Kolkata that they learnt about the abduction from the Indian embassy in Kabul early on Friday morning.
The family urged the Afghan and Indian governments to act fast so as to rescue Judith D’Souza, who was set to return home next week.
“It happened in a different country. The government of that country should take steps. She liked the place as she said there was a lot of work to be done,” her sister Agnes said.
“The government of India must do something and get my sister back. I want her back,” she added.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj responded and said: “We will spare no efforts to rescue her.”
“She is your sister and India’s daughter. We are doing everything to rescue her,” the minister tweeted.
Officials in New Delhi said that the Indian embassy in Kabul was in touch with the Afghan authorities who were making all efforts to secure her release.
The Aga Khan Foundation, which is a part of the Aga Khan Development Network, told IANS that an unnamed “staff member” was abducted.
But the aid agency, which works in health, education and rural development sectors and has pumped nearly $750 million into Afghanistan’s reconstruction, didn’t provide more details.
“An investigation by the authorities has been launched, in conjunction with security officials and various partners. Every effort is being made to secure the safe release of the staff member,” Aga Khan Foundation spokesperson Sam Pickens said in an email response to IANS.
At Judith’s home in central Kolkata, her parents were distraught.
Asked about Taliban involvement in the crime, her sister Agnes said: “I don’t know.”
She said Judith never spoke about any danger to her. “She has been abroad before, but this is the first time this has happened.”
Her father Denzile described Judith as “very brave”.
“We were concerned about her safety in Afghanistan but she said she was quite safe. She told us there was plenty of security,” he said.
Judith was home two-and-a-half-months ago.
The abduction brought back chilling memories of many Indians abducted, a few of them murdered later, in Afghanistan where kidnappings is a huge problem for international aid agencies.
At least two abducted Indians have been killed in the Taliban captivity while four others were released in the last 13 years in Afghanistan. These include two construction workers who were kidnapped and released in December 2003.
Father Alexis Prem Kumar, an Indian Roman Catholic priest, was kidnapped in Heart in June 2014. He was later released in February last year.
An Indian best-selling author, Sushmita Banerjee who married an Afghan businessman, was shot dead by suspected Taliban gunmen in Sharan city in Afghanistan in 2013. In 1998, she wrote the bestselling memoir “Kabuliwalar Bangali Bou” (A Kabuliwala`s Bengali Wife), offering a vivid description of the suffering of women under the Taliban.
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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.
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