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Will make all effort to rescue abducted Indian woman: Sushma
Posted On Jun 10 2016
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Information from Ms D’Souza’s social networking accounts show that she has extensive experience of working in developing countries and is now serving as Senior Technical Advisor for gender issues at the Aga Khan Foundation in Afghanistan. “Every effort is being made to secure the safe release of the staff member”, Aga Khan spokesperson Sam Pickens said in an email response. “We hope that the government does something and gets my sister back”, she said, adding the Afghanistan government should also take steps to trace her.
“But if such a thing happens, who would want to go back”. The government are in touch with Judith’s sister who reside at CIT Road, Entally Kolkata. It had also warned Indians travelling to Afghanistan warning that a persistent volatile situation exists in the country.
Afghan authorities are making all attempts to ensure her early release, sources said.
While Indians had apparently been warned of the danger, sources added that the worldwide NGO D’Souza worked for had their own security protocol: being less visible and not travelling with armed bodyguards.
Given the volatile situation and a spate in terrorist activities in Afghanistan, in May this year the Indian Embassy had alerted Indians living in the country to be careful. “I tried calling Indian Embassy but it stays closed on Fridays”. “The embassy said we are doing our best”.
Judith (40) is a senior technical adviser at the Aga Khan Foundation, a well-known NGO long based in Afghanistan, and was scheduled to return to India next week.
Mr D’Souza informed that the family later came to know that the abduction took place when Judith was returning from a dinner on Thursday night.
The International NGO Safety Organisation, which monitors incidents involving aid workers worldwide, says there have been four fatalities, four injuries and 39 kidnappings in Afghanistan this year so far-the highest among any of the conflict zones it monitors. However she did not said to her family members that her life was at risk.
