"Terrorists are demanding ransom in exchange for people": Relative of Odisha youth abducted by Al-Qaeda in Mali
The brother-in-law told ANI on Saturday, 'Venkat last called me on June 30. He worked in a cement factory in Mali, West Africa. He said his company had stopped them from going out as terrorists were present. This kidnapping incident happened on July 1.'
He added that initially the company had informed them that his brother-in-law is in police custody after the terrorists set fire to the factory; however, later they came to know about the abduction and were asked not to leak the information.
'We got a call from the company that he and some others are in police custody as terrorists have set the factory on fire. An international news claimed that Al-Qaeda had kidnapped some people. We called the company to confirm this, and they refused us to leak this information and said that the terrorists are demanding ransom in exchange for the people,' he said.
'We waited for a few days and then complained to the police. I called and mailed the embassy, but did not get any response. I demand that my brother-in-law be brought back home safely,' Venkataraman's brother-in-law told ANI.
Earlier on Saturday, Sub-Collector Shibashish Baral told ANI, 'Information about the abduction of a person was reported by the kin, and immediately, the local administration reached them. It has been informed that the government is taking necessary steps.'
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed deep concern over the abduction of three Indian workers from a factory in Mali's Kayes region and urged authorities in the West African country to ensure their 'safe and expeditious' rescue.
'It has come to the knowledge of the Government of India that many military and government installations at multiple locations of western and central Mali were attacked by terrorists on July 1,' the MEA said in a statement on Wedneday.
The armed attack took place at the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes.
Condemning the incident, the MEA said the Indian embassy in Bamako is in constant contact with local authorities, security agencies, and the families of the abducted workers.
In its statement, the MEA described the act as 'deplorable' and reaffirmed India's strong stand against violence targeting its citizens abroad.
'The Embassy of India in Bamako is in close and constant communication with the relevant authorities of the Government of Mali, local law enforcement agencies, as well as the management of Diamond Cement Factory,' the MEA statement read. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Dalit man assaulted, paraded half-naked with forcibly-shaved face in Ludhiana village; 1 held
A young Dalit man was assaulted and paraded half-naked with his face forcibly shaved and blackened after his friend eloped with a woman in a village here, police said on Sunday. An official from the Meharban police station confirmed that one of the accused, Simranjeet Singh, has been arrested.(Representative Image/ANI) A viral video of the incident, which happened at Seeda village on the outskirts of Ludhiana on Tuesday, has sparked widespread outrage. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are on to nab others involved, police added. According to police, Harjot Singh was targeted by the woman's family after they suspected him of helping the couple elope. Harjot's friend and the woman is said to have solemnised their marriage on June 19, following which tensions persisted in the village. On Tuesday, Harjot was at a salon when some men barged in, dragged him out and brutally assaulted him. They forcibly shaved off his beard and moustache, blackened his face, tore his clothes and paraded him semi-naked through the streets while hurling casteist slurs. The men also filmed the act and circulated it on social media, police said. The attackers have been identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjeet Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer, and Ramandeep alias Kaka, they added. An FIR was registered on Saturday under Sections 115(2), 127(2) and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the provisions of the IT Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Inspector Paramdeep Singh of Meharban police station confirmed that Simranjeet Singh has been arrested. He said all the remaining accused will be brought to book soon. "This is not just a case of physical assault. It is a brutal attack on human dignity. We are investigating the matter thoroughly," said a senior police official. The victim's family has demanded justice and maximum punishment for the accused.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
"Distressing": Ashish Shelar compares Pahalgam terror attack to Marathi-Hindi row
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 6 (ANI): Amid the political sparring over Hindi imposition charge by the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar on Sunday compared the agony of the Pahalgam terror attack, where Hindus were killed in the name of religion, and those getting 'beaten up' in the name of language. He said that these incidents were distressing for him. 'All these incidents cause pain, suffering, and mental distress. In Pahalgam, they shot them after asking about their religion. And here, they beat up the innocent Hindus just because of the language they speak. Such cases create a disturbance,' Shelar said. His remarks come after some incidents of violence and vandalism were reported in the state amid the ongoing Hindi-Marathi controversy. Five workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were arrested in connection with the vandalism at entrepreneur Sushil Kedia's office in Worli, police said on Saturday. A case has been registered against them under Sections 223, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 191(3), and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Kedia, who found himself in the middle of the language row in Maharashtra over his recent remarks against MNS and its chief Raj Thackeray, stated that he made these comments in haste and has now realised his mistake. In another incident, as per a viral video, a group of men allegedly associated with a regional party beat up a shop owner for not speaking in Marathi. The incident occurred in the Mira-Bhayandar area near Mumbai. On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of strict legal action against those engaging in 'hooliganism' in the name of Marathi. He said that the Mahayuti government will not tolerate violence against commoners. Although the Maharashtra government withdrew its April 16 orders on the implementation of the three-language policy that made Hindi a 'mandatory' third language for school students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools, the political controversy over the same has brought together long-time estranged Thackeray cousins after nearly two decades. Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday shared the stage together at the Worli Dome in Mumbai as they held a joint rally in protest against the 'Hindi imposition'. (ANI)
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Why did al-Qaida linked terrorist group abduct Indians in Mali? Relative shares chilling account
The family of P Venkataraman , a resident of Odisha's Ganjam district and one of the three Indians kidnapped by an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group in Mali, has said that the abductors are demanding ransom. Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Venkataraman's brother-in-law said, 'Venkat last called me on June 30. He worked at a cement factory in Mali, West Africa. He said the company had restricted their movement because terrorists were nearby. This kidnapping happened on July 1.' Initially, the family was informed that Venkataraman was in police custody following a fire at the factory allegedly set by terrorists. However, they later learned that he had been abducted. 'We got a call from the company saying he and some others were in police custody because terrorists had set the factory on fire. But then international news reports claimed that al-Qaeda had kidnapped people. When we called the company to confirm, they asked us not to leak the information and said the terrorists were demanding ransom,' the brother-in-law said. He added, 'We waited for a few days and then approached the police. I also called and emailed the embassy but got no response. I demand that my brother-in-law be brought back home safely.' Live Events Confirming the incident, Sub-Collector Shibashish Baral told ANI, 'Information about the abduction was reported by the family, and the local administration immediately reached out to them. The government has been informed and is taking necessary steps.' The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed grave concern over the abduction of the three Indian workers from a factory in Mali's Kayes region. In a statement on Wednesday, the MEA urged Malian authorities to ensure their "safe and expeditious" rescue. 'It has come to the knowledge of the Government of India that many military and government installations at multiple locations in western and central Mali were attacked by terrorists on July 1,' the MEA said. The assault also targeted the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, where the Indian nationals were employed. Calling the act 'deplorable,' the MEA condemned the incident and reiterated India's strong opposition to violence against its citizens abroad. It said the Indian embassy in Bamako is in 'close and constant communication' with Malian authorities, law enforcement, and the management of the Diamond Cement Factory, as well as with the families of the abducted individuals. With inputs from ANI
