The year 2017 started on a sour note, with Turkey’s capital Istanbul facing this year’s first terror attack just an hour after the clock struck midnight.
Among the 39 lives that the terror attack claimed, 15 were those of foreigners including two Indians.
Announcing the bad news, Union minister Sushma Swaraj on January 1 took to Twitter and disclosed the identity of the two Indians that were killed in Istanbul.
I have a bad news from Turkey. We have lost two Indian nationals in the Istanbul attack. Indian Ambassador is on way to Istanbul. /1
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 1, 2017
While the shooting till now has claimed lives of 39 people, the toll could still go up as 65 others have been left wounded.
While disclosing the identity of the two victims, Swaraj identified Abis Rizvi, who is the eldest son of UP lawmaker Akhtar Hasan Rizvi who is also a former Rajya Sabha MP.
The other victim was identified as Khushi Shah, a resident of Gujarat.
The victims are Mr.Abis Rizvi son of former Rajya Sabha MP and Ms.Khushi Shah from Gujarat. /2
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 1, 2017
Abis was a noted real estate developer from Mumbai who produced the Bollywood movie, Roar: The Tigers of Sundarbans.
Abis Rizvi (L) is the eldest son former MP Akhtar Hasan Rizvi (R)
Swaraj later tweeted about speaking to victims parents and expressing her condolences to them.
I have just spoken to Mr.Akhtar Hassan Rizvi father of Abis Rizvi. He and Mrs Rizvi also want to go to Istanbul. We r organising their Visa.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 1, 2017
I have also spoken to Shri Ashok Shah father of Ms.Khushi Shah and conveyed our condolences.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 1, 2017
I have asked Rahul Kulshreshth Indian Ambassador in Turkey to receive families at the airport and make all arrangements. @IndianEmbassyTR
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) January 1, 2017
Abis and Khushi were in Istanbul’s Reina nightclub when they along with 37 others were gunned down around 1:15 am by a man dressed as Santa Clause.
The assailant is still at large.
