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FILE - In this Friday, June 15, 2012 file photo, an al-Qaida logo is seen on a street sign in the town of Jaar in southern Abyan province, Yemen. Arabic on the logo reads,
Aden/New Delhi: Four Indian nuns were among 16 people killed in strife-torn Yemen's Aden city today when a group of terrorists stormed an elderly care home run by Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity, handcuffed the victims before shooting them in the head.
The terrorists, numbering between 2 and 4, asked the guard to open the gate of the elderly home on the pretext of visiting their mothers. On entering inside, they first shot dead the gate keeper and then started shooting randomly on the inmates, officials in India's camp office in Djibouti said.
They said the attack at the care home in Sheikh Othman District in Aden took place at around 1230 hours, killing at least 16 persons, including four Indian nuns.
"The assailants escaped soon after the attack. The area has been cordoned off and the police are investigating the incident," the officials said.
In New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said government was trying to find out details of the Indians killed in the attack.
"We are trying to ascertain the details of the Indian victims," he said.
In the wake of escalation of violence, Indian Embassy in Yemen's capital Sana'a was closed last year and all its functions were carried out from a camp office in Djibouti, a country neighbouring Yemen and across the Red Sea.
Al-Qaeda and ISIS have been stepping up attacks in Aden.
Two gunmen surrounded the home while another four fighters entered the building, an AFP report quoted witnesses and officials.
They said the gunmen moved from room-to-room, handcuffing the victims before shooting them in the head.
One nun who survived and was rescued by locals said that she hid inside a fridge in a store room after hearing a Yemeni guard shouting "run, run."
There are around 80 residents living at the home, which is run by Missionaries of Charity, an organisation established by Mother Teresa. Missionaries of Charity nuns also came under attack in Yemen in 1998 when gunmen killed three nuns in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida.
India's first LGBT pride parade was in Kolkata. Subsequently, gay pride parades spread across the country. (credit:SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
December 2001(02 of12)
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An NGO fighting for gay rights, Naz Foundation files PIL seeking legalisation of gay sex among consenting adults.
September - November 2004(03 of12)
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Delhi High Court dismisses the PIL seeking decriminalisation of gay sex. The gay right activists file review petition. The HC dismisses the review plea.
December 2004(04 of12)
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Gay rights activists approach the apex court against the order of the High Court.
April 2006(05 of12)
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The apex court directs the HC to reconsider the matter on merit and remands the case back to High Court.
September 2008(06 of12)
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Centre seeks more time to take stand on the issue after the contradictory stand between the Home and Health ministries over decriminalisation of homosexuality. The gay rights activists contend that the government The Court pulls up the Centre for speaking in two voices on the homosexuality law in view of contradictory affidavits filed by Health and Home ministries.cannot infringe upon their fundamental right to equality by decriminalising homosexual acts on the ground of morality. Centre says that gay sex is immoral and a reflection of a perverse mind and its decriminalisation would lead to moral degradation of society.
October 2008(07 of12)
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The High Court pulls up the Centre for relying on religious texts to justify ban on gay sex and asks it to come up with scientific reports to justify it.
July 2009(08 of12)
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The Court refuses the plea and final argument in the case begins. Delhi High Court strikes down Section 377 of IPC, decriminalising homosexuality.
February 2012(09 of12)
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The Indian Home Ministry opposes decriminalization of homosexuality, calling it "immoral." Within days, the Central Government reverses its stance saying there's no illegality in decriminalizing homosexual intercourse.
December 2013(10 of12)
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The Supreme Court of India reverses High Court decision.
January 2014(11 of12)
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Supreme Court dismisses review petition filed by the Central Government and non-profits.
April 2014(12 of12)
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Supreme Court declares transgender people as a socially & economically backward class, entitled to reservations in education and employment.
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