Rescued Indian aid worker back at her Kolkata home

Kolkata, July 24 (IANS) Rescued Indian aid worker Judith D'Souza, who was kidnapped in Kabul early in June, on Sunday reached her city home as her family members rejoiced her homecoming.

Accompanied by her brother Jerome, Judith landed at the city airport in the evening amid tight security and was whisked away by CISF and police personnel.

Flanked by security personnel, Judith reached her resident in city's Entally area where a host of media persons and neighbours were eagerly waiting for her.

Having spent sleepless nights for weeks, the D'Souza family was overjoyed to have their daughter back.

"We are grateful to the government for their entire effort. We are also grateful the nation who prayed for my daughter. We are elated," said Judith's mother Gloria D'Souza.

Elated at her return the neighbours decorated the locality and also distributed sweets.

Judith, 40, who works for the Aga Khan Network, was seized by gunmen on June 9 in the Qala-e-Fatullah area of Kabul while she was returning home after dinner at a friend's place. Judith was working with the NGO as a senior technical adviser since July 2015.

News of her rescue was conveyed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday morning through Twitter.

Accompanied by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Manpreet Vohra, Judith landed New Delhi on Saturday evening and later met Prime Minister Narendra Modi.