Princess Mystery: UN body writes to India on Abduction of Dubai Princess Sheikha Latifa
United Nations, Dec 7: A UN body on enforced disappearances has communicated to India on the case of one of the daughters of Dubai's ruler, who was allegedly abducted in March aboard a US-flagged yacht off the Indian coast while attempting to flee from the UAE.
Princess Sheikha Latifa is the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the UAE. She is one of the 30 children who tried to escape in March after complaining she was effectively being held prisoner by her repressive father.
She fled across the border to Oman with the help of a friend, before boarding a boat to meet French national Herve Jaubert, who had himself managed to successfully escape the Emirates in 2010.
The boat set sail for the Indian coast but was intercepted by three Indian and two Emirati warships - with Jaubert claiming he and his crew were beaten by commandos before Latifa was whisked away, 'The Telegraph' reported.
There was no immediate comment from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Coast Guard.
The Human Rights Council's Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, in its report dated August 16, 2018 on 'Communications, cases examined, observations and other activities', said it has transmitted to India a copy of the case of Latifa.
It said on May 2, 2018, the Working Group, under its urgent action procedure, transmitted to the Government of the UAE the case of Latifa "allegedly abducted on March 4, 2018 aboard a United States-flagged yacht, off the Indian coast while attempting to flee from Dubai, by Indian military and security services, as well as coast guards, and reportedly handed over to the authorities of the UAE".
The report added "her fate and whereabouts remain unknown".
An email to the Geneva-based Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances seeking comment on the case was not immediately answered.
Rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a statement in May this year, said that the UAE authorities had intercepted Latifa in March as she tried to flee by sea to a third country, and returned her to the UAE.
Latifa had told friends that she wished to flee restrictions imposed by her family, the rights group said.
The group said Tiina Jauhiainen, a Finnish citizen and a former Dubai resident for 17 years, told it that she met Latifa in 2010 and developed a long-term friendship with her.
Jauhiainen said she and Latifa left the UAE on February 24. Later that day, they joined Jaubert on his private boat, sailing toward southeast Asia.
Jauhiainen said that on March 4 the boat stopped 50 miles off the coast of Goa, according to the HRW statement.
"She was told about the location by Jaubert. At around 10 pm she and Latifa were below deck when they heard shouting and gunfire and locked themselves in the bathroom. The cabin filled with gas, forcing them onto the deck," it said.
Jauhiainen said that she saw several boats around their boat. Men boarded their boat, pointed guns at her, forced her to the ground, and tied her hands behind her back, according to the HRW statement.
She said the men kept shouting in English, "Who is Latifa?", adding that she later heard Latifa, whom she could not see, trying to break free and repeatedly shouting that she wanted to claim asylum.
She said the men removed Latifa from the boat, the statement said. It appeared that Jaubert and the crew had been mistreated, Jauhiainen said, describing Joubert's face as "bloody" and "unrecognisable".
Jauhiainen told the Human Rights Watch that the Indian Coast Guard participated in the raid in coordination with the UAE authorities.
The Working Group was established by the then UN Commission on Human Rights in 1980 to assist families in determining the fate and whereabouts of disappeared relatives.
Meanwhile, the Dubai government said in a statement that Latifa was with her family.
"Her Highness Sheikha Latifa is now safe in Dubai," read a statement released on Thursday by Dubai's Royal Court.
"She and her family are looking forward to celebrating her birthday today (sic), in privacy and peace, and to building a happy and stable future for her," The Telegraph quoted the statement as saying.
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Passing out parade held at IMA Dehradun, 491 young officers join Indian Army
Dehradun(PTI): After undergoing rigorous training at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Dehradun, 491 cadets participated in a grand Passing Out Parade on Saturday and will now be commissioned as officers in the Indian Army.
The spectacular parade, held at the historic Drill Square in front of the academy's Chatwood Building, was reviewed by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, who served as the reviewing officer.
Along with 491 Indian cadets, 34 foreign cadets from 14 friendly countries also participated in the Autumn Term 2025 Passing Out Parade.
A total of 525 officer cadets from the 157th Regular Course, 46th Technical Entry Scheme, 140th Technical Graduate Course, 55th Special Commissioned Officers Course, and Territorial Army Online Entrance Exam 2023 Course participated in the Passing Out Parade.
The 'Sword of Honour' and gold medal for securing first place during training was awarded to ACA Nishkal Dwivedi, the silver medal to BUO Badal Yadav for second place, and the bronze medal to SUO Kamaljeet Singh for third place.
The silver medal for securing first place in the 'Technical Graduate Course' was awarded to Officer Cadet Jadhav Sujit Sampat, and the silver medal for first place in the 'Technical Entry Scheme-46' was awarded to WCC Abhinav Mehrotra.
The silver medal for the 'Special Commission Officer Course' was given to Officer Cadet Sunil Kumar Chhetri.
Among the foreign cadets, the first place in merit was secured by JUO Mohammad Safin Ashraf from Bangladesh. The Army Chief's Banner for overall best performance in the Autumn Term was awarded to Imphal Company.
As the parade concluded, helicopters showered flowers on the newly commissioned officers from the sky.
On this occasion, General Dwivedi congratulated the new officers in his address for successfully completing their training. He praised the young officers for their high level of discipline, leadership qualities, and endurance, and urged them to uphold the glorious traditions of the Indian Army and serve the nation with loyalty, commitment, and honour.
General Dwivedi said that joining the army marks the beginning of a lifelong duty and selfless service.
The parents and guardians of the newly commissioned officers were also present during the passing out parade.
