State co-ordinating to bring back body of Koppal man

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the state government was coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs to bring home the body of Syed Farooq Basha, who was shot dead by rebel fighters in South Sudan.

Basha, who hails from Gangavati in Koppal district, was employed with Omaski Sai Infrastructure, which is involved in drilling wells in South Sudan.

“My heartfelt condolences to the family of Basha - one of our own from Karnataka,” Siddaramaiah stated on his twitter handle @CMofKarnataka.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday directed the Indian High Commission in South Sudan to help the family of Basha in bringing his body back to India.

“Indian High Commissioner in South Sudan — Plz contact the bereaved family and help them,” Swaraj tweeted in response to an appeal for help by Basha’s cousin. Syed Ejaz Hussain had sought Swaraj’s help in bringing back Basha’s body to India. Swaraj also tweeted the response of the Indian High Commissioner, saying that the embassy had spoken to the family of Basha and promised them all help.