Sudan civil war victim's body to arrive in Kurnool on Friday

Koppal: Family members of Syed Farooq Basha Quadri ( 25), who became the first Indian victim of South Sudan's civil war have appealed to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to arrange a special flight to bring the young man's body back to the country.

Quadri, a 25 year old from Gangavati in Koppal district was killed in a terrorist attack in South Sudan on February 17. Shocked over the incident, S B Quadri, the youth's father told DC that the External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had responded despite her ill-health.

"We are expecting the body to arrive in Hyderabad airport on Friday", said S B Quadri. At present the young man's body is being kept at United Nations Interim Security Forces for Abyei in South Sudan. “Since most of our relatives are in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, we will perform his last rites here,” he said.

According to Quadri, his son-in-law Syed Peer Basha, who also works in South Sudan is activating all the diplomatic channels to move the body from Juba, the capital city of South Sudan to India . "However, there are only two flights a week,  on Monday and Friday from Juba airport. Hence, we requested External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to arrange a special flight", he said. Ms. Swaraj in a social media post, responding to requests from his family said: “We have spoken to the family of Syed Farooq Basha and promised all help.”

Farooq's heart-broken mother Nasreen Banu said: " He was with us last Muharram. My son had assured us he would find a girl this year and marry in 2018. He was enthusiastic about starting a family. We still can't believe he's no more."

The Quadris were based in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh where Farooq did his schooling, until they moved to Gangavati. “Farooq was very intelligent and interested in sports during his childhood,” the elder Quadri said.

Another member of the family told DC that the young man was aware of the dangers involved and had handled it well over the last two years. “He had been staying there for more than two years and knew the risks. The rebels control some territory in that region and he had avoided them so far. The incident has come as a shock for us,” the relative said.