Indian diplomat found dead in Palestine

Muscat: An Indian diplomat, posted as The Indian Representative at Ramallah, Palestine, was found dead on Sunday.

Mukul Arya, was a career diplomat at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and had earlier served at the Ministry in New Delhi, in addition to serving at the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO in Paris and at the Embassies of India in Kabul and Moscow.

He was raised and educated in Delhi, studied Economics at Delhi University and the Jawaharlal Nehru University, before joining the Indian Foreign Service in 2008.

Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, himself a former diplomat, tweeted, “Deeply shocked to learn about the passing away of India’s Representative at Ramallah, Shri Mukul Arya.

He was a bright and talented officer with so much before him. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Om Shanti.”

In a tweet, the Official channel of Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, shared a statement, “On this sad occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Dr. Riyad Al-Maliki extends his heartfelt condolences to his counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of India, S Jaishankar and to the family of the diplomat.”

The statement further said that formal arrangements are being made to return the diplomats body to India for final rites. According to the statement, immediate instructions, on receipt of the news, were issued by President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Dr. Muhammed Shtayyeh to all state apparatus to extend all cooperation.