Couple murdered in Dubai; victims’ kids, parents get golden visas for 10 yrs Sisters Awarded Study Scholarship

Couple murdered in Dubai; victims’ kids, parents get golden visas for 10 yrs  Sisters Awarded Study Scholarship

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:29.11.2020

In a rare instance, two sisters – aged 18 and 13 – with their grandparents have got the golden visa of UAE with a validity of 10 years. Their parents, Vadodara-natives Hiren and Vidhi Adhia, were killed by a burglar at their villa in Dubai on June 18. The visa was granted on humanitarian grounds and a possible first for Indians, said Indian community members.

Hiren Adhia and his wife Vidhi, both in their 40s, were asleep at their villa in Arabian Ranches when a burglar entered and stole valuables worth 2,000 dirham. Hiren spotted and confronted the burglar and was stabbed. When Vidhi came to rescue him she was also stabbed and both died on the spot. On November 23 their daughters and parents were granted ‘golden visa’. The sisters also got the full scholarship for their studies in Dubai.

Scholarships also announced

In a statement issued by the Dubai Police, visas were handed over by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Mari, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, and Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, DG, General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) office in Dubai.

The press statement issued by the Dubai Police said it collaborated with GDRFA to issue the golden visas following efforts by CID’s Victim Support Programme. Dubai police has withheld the name of the sisters to protect their identity as they are part of the victim support programme.

‘Granting the golden visas to the sisters is in line with the humanitarian approach embraced by the UAE’s wise leadership to ensure the happiness of all community segments in the UAE,’ said Lt Gen Al Marri in the statement. Dubai Police also announced full scholarships for the sisters at Canadian University and Repton School in Dubai.