28-year-old from Odisha kidnapped in Mali by Al-Qaeda-affiliated group

Bhubaneswar, July 5: A 28-year-old man from Odisha is among three Indian nationals abducted by Al-Qaeda-linked militants in Mali, West Africa, amid a recent surge in violent attacks across the region. The victim, P. Venkataramana, hailing from Samarjhola village in Ganjam district’s Hinjili block, was working at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes when armed militants launched a coordinated assault on July 1 and took him hostage.

According to reports, Venkataramana had been employed with Blue Star, a Mumbai-based company, for the past six months. He had been deployed to Mali under company assignment. Two days after his abduction, a company official contacted his family, asking them not to panic. However, when the family tried to reach Venkataramana, his phone remained switched off. His mother, P. Narasamma, filed a written complaint at Hinjilicut police station on Friday, appealing for urgent action to ensure his safe return.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has condemned the incident as a “deplorable act of violence” and has urged the Malian government to take immediate steps to secure the safe release of the abducted Indians. The Indian Embassy in Bamako is in continuous contact with local authorities, the cement factory management, and the families of the hostages. The MEA has also advised all Indian nationals in Mali to remain vigilant and exercise utmost caution.