The frustrating silence from authorities continues as the families of Amaralingaeswara Rao, Venkatramana Panad, and another Indian citizen face an agonizing wait. These men were kidnapped last Tuesday while working at a cement factory, and their families report a troubling lack of information from both the Indian government and the local authorities.
The foreign ministry of India confirmed that the three men were "forcibly taken" by armed assailants amid escalating violence linked to the armed group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). The incidents took place concurrently with a series of attacks on military installations in Mali, which is grappling with insurgents connected to al-Qaeda and ISIS since the turbulence began in 2012.
Notably, around 400 Indians currently reside in Mali, a nation with which India has maintained trade relations since the 1990s. The recent kidnappings come just months after five Indian nationals were abducted in Niger, sparking alarm among their families.
Recognizing the dangers, India's foreign ministry urged citizens in Mali to stay alert and maintain communication with the Indian embassy in Bamako. The company running the cement factory, Prasaditya Group, has so far refrained from commenting on the matter, despite public appeals for clarity.
The relatives of the kidnapped men express a mix of fear and hope, as local resident testimonies indicate the violent chaos during the abduction. Families have made formal complaints to local authorities while seeking assistance from political figures back in India.
Panad’s mother shared a heart-wrenching moment of her last conversation with her son, reflecting not only personal anguish but also the broader despair felt by many families intertwined in this crisis. Meanwhile, Amaralingaeswara Rao’s parents express their desperation as they cling to the hope of his return, noting he had planned a visit home soon.
As reports of violence in Mali escalate, the families of those taken remain anxious for news on their loved ones, grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing turmoil.
The foreign ministry of India confirmed that the three men were "forcibly taken" by armed assailants amid escalating violence linked to the armed group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM). The incidents took place concurrently with a series of attacks on military installations in Mali, which is grappling with insurgents connected to al-Qaeda and ISIS since the turbulence began in 2012.
Notably, around 400 Indians currently reside in Mali, a nation with which India has maintained trade relations since the 1990s. The recent kidnappings come just months after five Indian nationals were abducted in Niger, sparking alarm among their families.
Recognizing the dangers, India's foreign ministry urged citizens in Mali to stay alert and maintain communication with the Indian embassy in Bamako. The company running the cement factory, Prasaditya Group, has so far refrained from commenting on the matter, despite public appeals for clarity.
The relatives of the kidnapped men express a mix of fear and hope, as local resident testimonies indicate the violent chaos during the abduction. Families have made formal complaints to local authorities while seeking assistance from political figures back in India.
Panad’s mother shared a heart-wrenching moment of her last conversation with her son, reflecting not only personal anguish but also the broader despair felt by many families intertwined in this crisis. Meanwhile, Amaralingaeswara Rao’s parents express their desperation as they cling to the hope of his return, noting he had planned a visit home soon.
As reports of violence in Mali escalate, the families of those taken remain anxious for news on their loved ones, grappling with the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing turmoil.
