A week after the kidnapping of three Indian nationals in Mali, family members express deep anxiety over their loved ones' safety with no updates on their condition. The Indian government maintains contact with Malian authorities and urges citizens to exercise caution in the conflict-ridden region.
Families Fear for Safety of Indians Abducted in Mali Amid Rising Tensions
Families Fear for Safety of Indians Abducted in Mali Amid Rising Tensions
Three Indian workers kidnapped in Mali leave their families in distress as concerns grow over their safety; India’s government seeks assistance from local authorities amid ongoing jihadist violence.
In a growing crisis, families of three Indian men kidnapped in Mali are voicing their fears as they await news of their loved ones, who were taken last week by armed assailants from a cement factory in Kayes city. The Indian foreign ministry has confirmed that the men, who were employed by the Prasaditya Group, are missing, and the unsettling situation comes amidst a backdrop of increased violence in the Sahel region linked to jihadist groups.
The abduction occurring on a day that the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) claimed to have conducted multiple attacks has heightened fears among the Indian community in Mali. The region's reputation for violence, marked by insurgencies originating from northern Mali since 2012, has prompted the Global Terrorism Index to label it as the "epicentre of global terrorism."
Currently, around 400 Indians reside in Mali, tapping into a long-standing trade relationship established since the 1990s. However, a recent kidnapping in Niger of five Indian citizens earlier this year underscores a troubling trend, as armed violence persists in the surrounding areas.
Family members of the kidnapped men expressed their anguish and desperation for information. According to the mother of one of the abducted engineers, Panad Venkatramana, the last conversation she had with her son was on June 30 before she learned of the kidnapping through media reports. Another family, that of Amaralingaeswara Rao, is similarly distraught, waiting for any sign of his return after he had planned a trip home in October.
The Indian embassy in Bamako has urged nationals to remain vigilant and maintain contact with their office. While the Indian government is working closely with local Malian authorities and the families, many relatives state that communication has been lacking, leading to increased panic and uncertainty.
The continuous threats from jihadist groups in Mali, along with the attack on military installations over the past few weeks, raise further alarms for any foreigners in the region. As more details remain unclear about the kidnapped men's status, their families continue to hope for a safe resolution amidst rising fears of violence.
