NGO worker’s abduction: Kin writes to PM, govt says working to secure release

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said it is working round-the-clock to secure the release of NGO worker Judith D’Souza, who was abducted in Afghanistan, even

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday said it is working round-the-clock to secure the release of NGO worker Judith D’Souza, who was abducted in Afghanistan, even as her family wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to do his “utmost” to ensure she is reunited with them at the earliest.

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“This is a very delicate matter. Human life is at stake. We are working round-the-clock. I cannot share details,” tweeted external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj while responding to a question on steps the government has taken to rescue the 40-year-old woman.

Meanwhile, keeping the hope alive that Judith will be home soon, her family wrote to the Prime Minister, copies of which were sent to Swaraj, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress MP from the state Derek O’Brien.

In the letter, the family members said the “brave, thoughtful, generous and compassionate” Judith had been working in Afghanistan for the well-being of the Afghan people and “as an ambassador of goodwill from India’s people, participating in the developmental programmes of that country”.

Describing her as a “proud Indian”, the family said, “As you can imagine, the news of Judith’s kidnapping has shocked and stunned us. It has placed a shroud upon our family. We were eagerly awaiting her arrival home on vacation in a week from now, and do hope she will be back with us soon.”

Judith, working for the Aga Khan Foundation as senior technical adviser, was kidnapped by suspected militants in the heart of Kabul three days ago.

Judith’s family said the government reached out to them in “our time of need and anxiety” and Swaraj, as well as an official of the ministry, had spoken to them in the past two days.

“However, we still await concrete details,” they said.