Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 14: In a troubling incident, three Indian nationals—hailing from Rajasthan, Telangana, and Odisha—were kidnapped on July 1 during an armed assault at the Diamond Cement Factory in Mali’s Kayes region. The attackers are suspected to be affiliated with the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group operating across West Africa.

The kidnapped Indians have been identified as Prakash Chand Joshi from Jaipur, Amaralingeswara Rao from Miryalaguda in Telangana, and P Venkataraman from Ganjam district in Odisha. All three were working at the Diamond Cement facility, operated by the Indian-owned Prasaditya Group.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the abductions and said it is coordinating closely with Malian authorities and the families of the victims. Over 400 Indian nationals currently work in Mali, many of them in construction and infrastructure sectors.

Speaking to the media, Prakash Joshi’s wife, Suman, said her husband was “forcibly taken” by armed assailants. “There has been no contact with him since,” she said, pleading with the Indian government to intervene urgently.

In Telangana, Rao’s wife Venkataramana said she last spoke to her husband on June 30. “The company informed me about the kidnapping. There has been no official word from the government so far,” she added. The couple has three children.

In Odisha, Venkataraman’s mother P Narasamma said she initially received a call claiming her son was in police custody. “Later, we heard he was abducted. We are still unsure of his condition,” she said tearfully.

The Sahel region, where the kidnapping occurred, has seen mounting violence over the past decade, fuelled by militant groups, weak governance, and civil unrest. The Global Terrorism Index recently identified this region as the most terror-affected zone in the world.

While JNIM has yet to claim responsibility, the method of attack is consistent with its past operations targeting foreign nationals. The Indian embassy in Bamako is said to be in “constant touch” with authorities, but no breakthrough has been reported so far.

Family members of the abducted have appealed for swift action to ensure their safe return. Meanwhile, security remains tense in the Kayes region, and the cement factory has reportedly suspended operations until further notice.