Indian-origin woman murdered in student flat in London
London(PTI): Scotland Yard have arrested a Tunisian national on suspicion of the murder and assault of a British woman of Indian origin in her student accommodation in London.
Sabita Thanwani, a 19-year-old British national, was found with serious injuries to her neck at Arbour House student flats in Clerkenwell area of London on Saturday.
The Metropolitan Police issued an urgent appeal for a 22-year-old man, Maher Maaroufe, who they said had been in a relationship with Thanwani. The wanted suspect was eventually arrested by officers on Sunday around the same area of Clerkenwell where the victim's body was discovered a day before.
I would like to thank everyone for publicising and sharing our appeal to trace Maaroufe, said Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley, from the Met Police Specialist Crime unit who is leading the investigation.
Sabita's family have been updated with this development and continue to be supported by specially trained officers. Our deepest condolences are with them. I would ask everyone to respect their privacy at this indescribably devastating time for them as they come to terms with Sabita's murder, she said.
Earlier, the Met Police had said that although formal identification remains pending, Thanwani's family was informed ahead of a special post-mortem examination to be arranged in due course.
Maaroufe had been in a relationship with Sabita but he was not a student. He is a Tunisian national of no fixed address, said Detective Bradley, as part of a public appeal in the case.
In a direct appeal to the suspect, she added: I am also appealing, once again, for Maher Maaroufe to attend a police station immediately. Maher I am making this appeal directly to you: if you see this, please go to the nearest police station. It is important that we speak with you.
Thanwani was studying at City, University of London, and was reportedly with Maaroufe on Friday.
As this remains an ongoing police incident, we are unable to comment on their investigation, said a spokesperson for Unite Students, which operates the Arbour House student accommodation.
Our priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of students at Arbour House. We are working closely with the police and City, University of London, the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for City, University of London also said it was working closely with Unite Students.
As a university, we will do everything we can to support our students and staff and we will continue to fully support the police with their investigation, a university spokesperson said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
