Nimisha Priya’s execution postponed; Victim’s family yet to accept pardon or blood money: Reports
Sana'a: The execution of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-born nurse sentenced to death in Yemen, has been temporarily postponed, according to sources on Tuesday. However, the family of the deceased Yemeni businessman has not yet agreed to grant her a pardon or accept blood money, a form of financial compensation under Islamic law.
Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a long-time resident of Yemen and a member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, confirmed that while last-minute negotiations are ongoing, there is still no breakthrough with the victim’s family.
Nimisha was convicted in 2017 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner. Her execution was initially scheduled for July 16, prompting a flurry of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in recent days.
Due to the lack of Indian diplomatic presence in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, and India’s non-recognition of the de facto authorities there, New Delhi’s formal interventions have been limited. Nonetheless, the Indian government has made an official request for a stay on the execution and is leveraging unofficial channels, including prominent religious leaders, to mediate the case.
A key figure in this intervention is Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, whose representatives have reportedly made direct contact with Talal Abdo Mahdi’s family—marking the first time a close relative has participated in the talks.
These negotiations are being conducted under Sharia law, which allows the victim’s family to forgive the convict either unconditionally or in return for diya (blood money). According to earlier reports, Rahim’s Trust has offered ₹11 crore as compensation if the family agrees.
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Bridge portion collapses on Jammu outskirts; 3-4 labourers feared trapped, 1 rescued
Jammu (PTI): A portion of a small bridge collapsed in the Bantalab area on the outskirts of Jammu city on Friday, trapping at least three to four labourers under the debris, while one injured worker was rescued, official sources said.
Authorities have closed the road link following the collapse of the portion of the bridge.
The incident occurred when labourers were carrying out repair work on a retaining wall near the bridge that was damaged in last year's flash floods, the sources said.
According to the sources, a section of the bridge suddenly gave way, burying workers engaged at the site under the rubble.
Police, Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams launched rescue operations to extricate those buried under the debris. They pulled out one injured labourer and shifted him to a hospital, the sources said.
Family members of the labourers present at the site said around six workers engaged at the site at the time of the incident came under the debris when the structure collapsed. The family members said while two of the labourers managed to escape, four got trapped.
The sources said those trapped included the husband of a woman labourer, a mason, an unmarried labourer and a relative of the contractor.
There was no official confirmation on the exact number of persons trapped under the debris till the filing of this report.
The rescue operations are ongoing.
