Indian-origin woman killed in Israel to be laid to rest on Sunday

Mortal remains of Soumya Santosh arrived on Saturday. Pic/Sherly AND Bindhu

On Sunday, Soumya Santosh, 32, will be laid to rest in her hometown of Keerithodu in Idukki district of Kerala.

A special flight airlifted the coffin with her mortal remains from Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Friday evening. It was received in Delhi by Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, along with Rony Yedidia Clein, Israeli Deputy Envoy in Delhi.

Soumya was on a video call with her husband on Tuesday when a rocket fired from Hamas hit the house of Naomi Pelman, 80, where she worked as a caregiver.

Bindhu Raju, Soumya's sister-in-law, said, "The local superintendent of police had visited our home to ensure that adequate police deployment was made in and around the house, after they were informed that the Israel Ambassador was going to visit us."

Soumya's husband is yet to come to terms with the news. "Santosh has not slept since the call with Soumya. We will be taking him and Soumya's 10-year-old son, Adon, for counselling." All her belongings have been sent to Sherly Benny, Soumya's sister-in-law, who also works as a caregiver in Ashdod city of Israel.

R Karuppasamy, superintendent of police, Idukki district, said, "We are adhering to strict norms of Covid-19 here. Only 20 people will be allowed to attend the funeral and we will be making adequate arrangements for it."