 "Judith D'Souza rescued from Afghanistan, to return home on Saturday, confirms Sushma Swaraj")
The 40-year-old Indian woman, who was abducted in Afghanistan on 9 June, has reportedly been rescued. External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj announced the happy news on her Twitter account early on Saturday morning. She is expected to come home on Saturday night. “I am happy to inform you that Judith D’Souza has been rescued. Judith was abducted in Kabul on 9th June 2016,” she tweeted.
Swaraj also thanked Afghanistan for their help and support in rescuing Judith. She applauded India’s ambassador to Afghan Manpreet Vohra for doing an “outstanding job”. He is also expected to accompany Judith.
Thank you Afghanistan - for all your help and support in rescuing #Judith.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
I have spoken to Judith. She is reaching Delhi this evening. Ambassador @VohraManpreet is accompanying her.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 23, 2016
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More ShortsVohra in turn said “everyone concerned worked long and hard” to secure the release.
Thank you, ma'am. Everyone concerned worked long and hard.
— Manpreet Vohra (@VohraManpreet) July 23, 2016
Judith’s brother Jerome D’Souza too took to Twitter to thank the Indian government and the people for their wishes. He also announced that she will return home on Saturday evening.
The motive of her abduction was deduced to be ransom and the Taliban had no hand in her kidnapping, as was suspected by many. She was reportedly kept in the Shomali plains, close to the house of the two men in custody. The Hindu quoted Judith’s brother Jerome as saying, “I am grateful to the Government of India and particularly to the tireless efforts of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The Indian authorities were constantly in touch with the Afghan government to secure Judith’s release. The authorities were also in touch with her family. Judith was working as a senior technical advisor for an NGO Aga Khan Development Network in Kabul. After she went “missing” on 9 June, Judith’s father received a call from the Indian Embassy in Kabul informing him that his daughter has “in all probability been abducted,” Firstpost had reported. He was informed that three persons – Judith, a security guard and the driver of the vehicle, were abducted. However, The Hindu reported that the two men were let off because they were Afghan and Judith was asked if she was a “foreigner”. However, her abduction made the police suspicious and the two men, who were released were taken into custody. Interrogating the men revealed significant details about the abduction and Judith’s whereabouts. Judith’s family and well wishers had launched a campaign on Twitter to bring her back. #rescuejudith was trending and people were doing their best to support the family and help with the rescue operation. Since her abduction, Judith’s family has written and appealed a number of times to the Indian government. They have always received a positive response from the government. They were always hopeful of her return.
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