Family members of Judith D’Souza, who was kidnapped in Kabul on Thursday, have pinned their hopes on the Indian government to get her back safe. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has assured the family that all steps were being taken to rescue Ms. D’Souza.
A resident of Kolkata, Ms. D’Souza (36) was working with an international NGO, Aga Khan Foundation. She was kidnapped on Thursday in Kabul, her family members said.
“We got a call from the Indian High Commissioner in Kabul informing us that Judith has been kidnapped at around 1.30 on Thursday night. The incident happened in Kabul when she had gone out of her home,” Agnes D’Souza, elder sister of Judith, told The Hindu .
The modest apartment on CIT Road in central Kolkata was abuzz with relatives, neighbours and journalists. Her father, Denzel D’Souza, and mother, Lawrence D’Souza, told journalists that they had little details to share with them “They did not give any other details. We would like the Ministry of External Affairs to bring Judith safely back home, and we will extend all necessary cooperation,” Ms. Agnes D’Souza said on the phone.
Judith’s father said she was expected back next Wednesday. “I talked to her two days ago and she sounded excited, she was going to come home,” Mr. D’Souza said.
Sushma talks to family
However, by the afternoon, the family was worried. It was Friday and the Indian High Commission in Kabul was closed. A call from External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, however, reassured the family.
Earlier, talking to The Hindu from Bengaluru, Ms. D’Souza’s elder brother Jerome D’Souza said that they had been asked not to interact with the press. “We have been told not to interact with the media at the moment. We can only say that the government is in touch with us and closely coordinating,” he said.
‘She is India’s daughter’
Responding to a tweet by Mr. Jerome D’Souza seeking help, Ms. Swaraj tweeted, “She is our sister and India’s daughter. We are doing everything to rescue her. Pl [please] take care of your sick father.”
In Kolkata, the family members told The Hindu that Ms. D’Souza, who had worked in a number of non-government organisations in Kolkata, Odisha and Chennai, left for Kabul in July 2015.
She is your sister and India's daughter. We are doing everything to rescue her. Pl take care of your sick father. >https://t.co/WsYdLyMIbE
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) >June 10, 2016
