EAM Dr S Jaishankar expressed shock over the diplomat's sudden demise. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki extended his heartfelt condolences to his Indian counterpart, Dr Jaishankar, and through him to the Indian government as well as to Arya's family.
New Delhi: In an unprecedented episode, Mukul Arya, India's envoy to Palestine, was found dead inside the Indian Mission in Ramallah on Sunday (March 6). It was not immediately known how Arya, a 2008-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, died.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar expressed shock over the diplomat's sudden demise. "Deeply shocked to learn about the passing away of India's Representative at Ramallah, Shri Mukul Arya," Dr Jaishankar tweeted. "He was a bright and talented officer with so much before him. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti," he wrote.
The top leadership of Palestine on Sunday expressed shock at the death of Mukul Arya at his workplace. The Palestinian foreign ministry said it received with "great astonishment and shock" the news of the death of Ambassador Arya.
"As soon as this painful news arrived, immediate instructions were issued from President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh to all the security, police and public authorities, in addition to the Ministry of Health and Forensic Medicine, to immediately move to the place of residence of the Indian ambassador to closely monitor the case of death," it said in a statement.
It further added, "All parties are fully prepared to do what is required of them in such difficult and emergency circumstances."
The ministry said it is in touch with India's external affairs ministry to complete the arrangements for transporting the body of Arya. It said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki extended his heartfelt condolences to his Indian counterpart, Dr Jaishankar, and through him to the Indian government as well as to Arya's family.
Arya had served in the Indian embassies in Kabul, Moscow, and at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. He also served at India's Permanent Delegation to the UNESCO in Paris.
T S Tirumurti, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, also tweeted to say, "This is truly shocking. A wonderful colleague snatched away so young. My deepest condolences to his family."
