Families of three Indian nationals, who were kidnapped in Mali, are expressing increasing worry over their loved ones' safety, still awaiting news a week after the incident. The Indian foreign ministry confirmed that the men, employees at a cement factory, were "forcibly taken" by armed attackers last Tuesday. While the Mali government has yet to issue comments, the kidnappings coincided with claims of multiple assaults by the al-Qaeda affiliated group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in the region.
Current estimates suggest around 400 Indians reside in Mali, a country with which India has maintained trade relations since the 1990s. This incident follows a worrying trend after five Indian citizens were kidnapped in Niger earlier this year, highlighting persistent threats in the region linked to rising insurgencies from groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS).
Mali, the eighth-largest country in Africa, lies in the Sahel region, designated the global terrorism epicenter by the Global Terrorism Index. Alarmingly, this area has been associated with over half of all terrorism-related fatalities recently. In response to the abductions, the Indian foreign ministry advised nationals in Mali to exercise extreme caution, urging contact with the Indian embassy in Bamako.
The three kidnapped workers were taken from the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes city, owned by Indian business conglomerate Prasaditya Group. Silence from the company continues despite the gravity of the situation. Eyewitness accounts revealed gunfire during the kidnapping, sparking panic among families of Indians residing in Africa.
The families of the abducted men, including engineer Panad Venkatramana, whose mother has raised concerns over the lack of information, are in constant contact with local authorities. Venkatramana's family has sought assistance from police and even garnered support from Odisha’s former chief minister, who urged the Indian foreign minister to expedite their relative’s safe return.
In addition, Amaralingaeswara Rao, another abductee and assistant general manager at the same factory, has his family anxiously waiting for updates on his return. His father emphasized the sacrifices made for his family, increasingly concerned as Rao had planned a trip back to India shortly.
As the situation continues to unfold, family members across the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana remain hopeful for updates while confronting the harsh reality of their loved one's uncertain fate amidst rising violence in the region.
