BJD president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene in the suspected abduction of a 28-year-old Indian worker from Ganjam, Odisha. The man, P. Venkatramana, went missing in Mali after an armed attack on the cement factory where he was employed. His family has filed a police complaint and is awaiting updates.
In a post on X, the BJD chief wrote: “Concerned to know that Panad Venkat Raman of Hinjilicut block of Ganjam district has been kidnapped by extremists in the African country Mali. He has remained incommunicado since then, leaving his family in deep agony. Request Union Minister Dr S Jaishankar to personally intervene in the matter and secure his early and safe release.”
The man in question, P Venkatramana, had been working at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, Mali, since November 2023. On 1 July, armed militants reportedly attacked the factory. Venkatramana has been missing since then.
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that three Indian nationals working at the factory were abducted during the attack. The Indian embassy in Bamako is in contact with local authorities and the factory management.
His family, originally from Andhra Pradesh but now living in Samarajhol village under Hinjilicut block in Odisha, approached local police on Thursday. His mother, P Narasamma, filed a complaint at the Hinjili police station.
Narasamma told the police that company officials had first informed her that her son was in police custody. Later, she saw online reports saying he may have been kidnapped by militants.
The Diamond Cement Factory is owned by the Hyderabad-based Prasaditya Group. Senior officials from the company have travelled to Mali and are working with law enforcement there.
Security agencies suspect that the militants involved may be linked to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a known al-Qaeda affiliate active in the region. So far, no group has claimed responsibility, and no demands have been made.
In a post on X, the BJD chief wrote: “Concerned to know that Panad Venkat Raman of Hinjilicut block of Ganjam district has been kidnapped by extremists in the African country Mali. He has remained incommunicado since then, leaving his family in deep agony. Request Union Minister Dr S Jaishankar to personally intervene in the matter and secure his early and safe release.”
The man in question, P Venkatramana, had been working at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, Mali, since November 2023. On 1 July, armed militants reportedly attacked the factory. Venkatramana has been missing since then.
The Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that three Indian nationals working at the factory were abducted during the attack. The Indian embassy in Bamako is in contact with local authorities and the factory management.
His family, originally from Andhra Pradesh but now living in Samarajhol village under Hinjilicut block in Odisha, approached local police on Thursday. His mother, P Narasamma, filed a complaint at the Hinjili police station.
Narasamma told the police that company officials had first informed her that her son was in police custody. Later, she saw online reports saying he may have been kidnapped by militants.
The Diamond Cement Factory is owned by the Hyderabad-based Prasaditya Group. Senior officials from the company have travelled to Mali and are working with law enforcement there.
Security agencies suspect that the militants involved may be linked to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a known al-Qaeda affiliate active in the region. So far, no group has claimed responsibility, and no demands have been made.
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