India intensifies efforts to save nurse Nimisha Priya facing execution in Yemen
New Delhi: The Government of India has pledged to extend all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi recently upheld the death sentence against Priya, who was convicted in 2018 for the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national. According to media reports, the sentence could be carried out within a month.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed its commitment to the case, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating, "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter."
The verdict has devastated Priya’s family, who have been fighting for her release since her conviction. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, for several months, attempting to negotiate a pardon by offering "blood money" to Mahdi’s family as per Yemeni law. However, negotiations have been complicated by financial and legal hurdles, including demands for substantial pre-negotiation fees by the lawyer engaged by the Indian Embassy.
Nimisha Priya, originally from Palakkad, Kerala, moved to Yemen for work but found herself embroiled in a dispute with Mahdi, who had initially helped her establish a clinic. Priya claimed in court that Mahdi misused their professional association to manipulate clinic ownership, harass her, and seize her passport. Her appeal alleged that years of abuse and financial exploitation culminated in the events of 2017, when Mahdi died after being sedated during a confrontation.
While Priya's appeals to Yemeni courts have been exhausted, her fate now hinges on securing a pardon from the victim's family and tribal leaders. Efforts led by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council and crowdfunding initiatives have faced transparency issues, further complicating the case.
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Illegally stored gas cylinders seized
Thane (PTI): Authorities have seized illegally stored 1,839 gas cylinders and seven vehicles worth over Rs 67 lakh in the Dombivli MIDC area of Thane district, officials said on Saturday.
A special vigilance team of the Mumbai Rationing Department detected an illegal storage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders in Phase-2 of Dombivli (East).
Cylinders belonging to multiple gas agencies were found stockpiled in closed vehicles, unauthorised warehouses, and open sheds without mandatory permissions from the Explosives Department, Fire Department, or oil companies, according to an official release.
