A 19-year-old Indian girl, Tarishi Jain, was among the 20 killed by Islamic State terrorists in the siege on a cafe in the Bangladeshi capital, the Indian government confirmed, while an Indian doctor who was taken hostage is safe.
Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that Tarishi was among the hostages killed in the Holey Artisan Bakery, a popular hangout for foreigners, in the high-security and affluent Gulshan diplomatic zone of the Bangladesh capital.
"Tarishi was 19 years old. She passed out from American School Dhaka. Presently, she was a student at Berkeley," Sushma posted.
Earlier, she wrote on Twitter: "I am extremely pained to share that the terrorists have killed Tarushi, an Indian girl who was taken hostage in the terror attack in Dhaka."
"I have spoken to her father Shri Sanjeev Jain and conveyed our deepest condolences.The country is with them in this hour of grief," she wrote.
More From This Section
Sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said Tarishi's father has been running a garment business in Bangladesh for last 15-20 years.
"We are assisting family members who are travelling to Bangladesh," the sources said.
An Indian doctor was also taken hostage but was among the eight people rescued on Saturday morning.
According to the sources, Dr. Satyapal speaks fluent Bengali and came out as one of the Bangladeshis. The others rescued are all Bangladeshis.
Besides, the Indian, the other killed included eight italians, some Japanese and South Koreans and some Bangladeshi.
Three-four people are undergoing treatment in Dhaka, including two Sri Lankans, a Japanese and an Italian.
Around 10-12 Bangladeshi staff of the bakery rescued in the morning have been segregated by police for interrogation.
Three people escaped on Friday night, including an italian and a Japanese when the attack started.
The 12-hour-long terrorist siege ended on Saturday morning, with the killing of six terrorists, and the capture of one gunman. Thirteen hostages were rescued.
--IANS
ab/rn/vm