Families Anxious Over Safety of Indians Kidnapped in Mali
Three Indian nationals abducted by armed assailants; families seek clarification on their whereabouts and safety.
A week after three Indians were kidnapped in Mali, concerns over their safety continue to mount as the abductors' identities and motivations remain unknown.
The incident occurred last Tuesday when a group of armed individuals forcibly took the men from the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes city.
According to reports, this factory is operated by the Indian-business conglomerate Prasaditya Group, which has not issued any statements regarding the incident thus far.
The abductions took place on a day when an al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), claimed responsibility for several attacks in Mali.
The presence of such terrorist organizations in the region is a cause for concern given that Mali and neighboring countries have been fighting an insurgency linked to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) since 2012.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has described the Sahel region, where Mali is located, as the epicenter of global terrorism.
The area accounts for over half of all terrorism-related deaths, highlighting the high-risk environment in which these events occur.
In response to the abductions, India's foreign ministry has urged citizens living in Mali to exercise caution and remain vigilant, emphasizing close contact with the Indian embassy in Bamako.
However, family members of the abducted men have reported limited information regarding their relatives' current whereabouts and status.
For instance, the mother of one of the abducted engineers, Panad Venkatramana, received a call from her son on June 30th but has not heard from him since.
The family has filed complaints with local police and sought assistance in finding him.
Similarly, the family of Amaralingaeswara Rao, another abducted individual, anxiously awaits his return after he was planning to visit India in October.
As concerns grow for the safety of these Indian nationals, calls for intervention from government officials and support from community leaders have been made.
The situation underscores the potential risks faced by Indians living abroad in regions affected by political instability and terrorism.
The incident occurred last Tuesday when a group of armed individuals forcibly took the men from the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes city.
According to reports, this factory is operated by the Indian-business conglomerate Prasaditya Group, which has not issued any statements regarding the incident thus far.
The abductions took place on a day when an al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), claimed responsibility for several attacks in Mali.
The presence of such terrorist organizations in the region is a cause for concern given that Mali and neighboring countries have been fighting an insurgency linked to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS) since 2012.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) has described the Sahel region, where Mali is located, as the epicenter of global terrorism.
The area accounts for over half of all terrorism-related deaths, highlighting the high-risk environment in which these events occur.
In response to the abductions, India's foreign ministry has urged citizens living in Mali to exercise caution and remain vigilant, emphasizing close contact with the Indian embassy in Bamako.
However, family members of the abducted men have reported limited information regarding their relatives' current whereabouts and status.
For instance, the mother of one of the abducted engineers, Panad Venkatramana, received a call from her son on June 30th but has not heard from him since.
The family has filed complaints with local police and sought assistance in finding him.
Similarly, the family of Amaralingaeswara Rao, another abducted individual, anxiously awaits his return after he was planning to visit India in October.
As concerns grow for the safety of these Indian nationals, calls for intervention from government officials and support from community leaders have been made.
The situation underscores the potential risks faced by Indians living abroad in regions affected by political instability and terrorism.
