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The body of a Kerala student killed during the attacks on the Christchurch Mosque was returned today to his grieving family in Kochi, where relatives remembered a brilliant young woman dedicated to to his studies.
Ansi Alibava, 25, was the first of about 15 Indians shot dead by a white supremacist in New Zealand on March 15, to be repatriated.
His body was returned Monday at Kochi airport early Monday, an AFP photographer said.
The family had planned to hold a funeral for the student master in their hometown neighbor Kodungallur.
Ansi Alibava was praying at the Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch with her husband, Abdul Nazer, when the Australian shooter opened fire on worshipers, leaving 43 dead.
Seven others were murdered in a separate mosque when the gunman shook his gun at Muslims in the worst violence of its kind ever seen in New Zealand.
Some families have opted for burials in Christchurch itself, where a national memorial service for victims will be held Friday, two weeks after the tragedy that shook the world.
Born into a middle-clbad family in Kodungallur, Kerala, Ms. Alibava began providing for her family after her father died five years ago in Saudi Arabia, where he worked.
She borrowed thousands of dollars to finance her commercial agriculture studies at Lincoln University in Christchurch.
Ansi Alibava's cousin, P.H. Niyas, told AFP that the devoted student would soon finish his studies.
"She had been there last year, the course was due to end in April, and there was going to be a six-month internship after which she had to go home in December," Niyas said.
Ms. Alibava also worked part-time in a supermarket with her husband Nazer, with whom she married two years ago.
On March 15, they went to Al Noor Mosque and sat separately in the men's and women's sections.
When gunfire broke out, Abdul Nazer managed to escape by an emergency exit, but his wife did not do so.
When he returned to pick her up, Mr. Nazer found his young wife motionless and face down, according to Indian media reports.
He was officially informed of his death 24 hours after the mbadacre.
Another Indian family who lost family members during the attack opted for burial in Christchurch.
The father and son, Asif Vora and Rameez Vora, are from Gujarat and went to visit family members in New Zealand when they were killed.
"They decided to practice the last sacraments themselves," a community leader, Zuber Goplani told AFP.
The body of another Gujarat victim, Mahebad Khokhar, is expected to be brought back to India this week, his family said.
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