Indian girl among 20 killed in Dhaka's terror attack; Tarishi's body will be brought back tomorrow

Twenty hostages, including an Indian girl and others mostly foreigners, were hacked to death by suspected ISIS militants inside a cafe popular with expats in the diplomatic zone in Dhaka in the worst terror attack in Bangladesh before commandos launched an assault killing six attackers and capturing one alive.

Director of Military Operations Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury said the militants slaughtered the hostages. Of the 20 hostages slain 9 were Italian, 7 Japanese, one American of Bangladeshi origin, and two were locals, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Most of those killed were found with their throats slit, he added. Indian girl Tarushi, 19, who was taken hostage was killed by the attackers.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday assured Tarishi Jain's family that her body will be brought back to India on Monday.

Taking to micro-blogging site, she said, "Tarishi was identified by the family this afternoon. It is a case of brutal killing - an unnatural death. Some legal procedure has be completed. This will be done by tomorrow. The mortal remains will reach Delhi by Jet Airways on Monday 4th July. This is with concurrence of Tarishi's father."

Tarushi's uncle, Rajeev Jain, described the fateful evening, "Tarushi stays in Bangladesh. She had gone to the cafe along with her friends and was taken hostage. After the operation she was found dead. She was 19 years old. She was studying in America and had come to Dhaka to spend her holidays with her parents."

Tarushi, a student at UC Berkeley, was on vacation. Her father runs a garment business in Bangladesh for the last 15-20 years, according to officials here.

"It was an extremely heinous act. What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion," Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a televised speech, referring to the terrorists.

Among those rescued were Indian, Sri Lankan and Japanese nationals, media reports said. Around 30 people were injured.

Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack through its Amaq news agency, nearly four hours after the hostage crisis unfolded, according to the US-based SITE Intelligence group, which monitors jihadist activity online.

Source: Indian girl among 20 killed in Dhaka's terror attack; Tarishi's body will be brought back tomorrow