BJD president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, on Saturday, urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to personally intervene for the early and safe release of a resident from Odisha, suspected to be abducted by militants in the West African country of Mali.
The youth has been identified as 28-year-old P. Venkatramana, a resident of Hinjili in Odisha’s Ganjam district. He allegedly went missing in Mali after an armed attack on the cement factory where he was employed.
Patnaik sought Jaishankar’s intervention after the mother of Venkatramana lodged a complaint at a local police station in Hinjili, Patnaik’s assembly constituency from which he has been elected for six consecutive terms since 2000. The youth’s family is meanwhile awaiting updates for his whereabouts.
Taking to his X handle, Patnaik said, “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 (@MEABharat) Shri @DrSJaishankar to personally intervene in the matter and secure his early and safe release.”
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 (@MEABharat) Shri @DrSJaishankar to…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 5, 2025
The incident came to light on Friday following a police complaint by Venkatraman’s mother P Narasama stating that she had been unable to contact her son, who works at a cement factory in Mali, an official said.
“I am very much worried about the fate of my son. I requested the government for his safe release,” said Narasama, a widow.
“We are closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy about the incident and are waiting for their response,” Vishal Gagan, Principal Resident Commissioner of Odisha in New Delhi, told news agency PTI over the phone.
He added after a video clip on social media about the alleged abduction surfaced, the Resident Commissioner’s office contacted the Indian Embassy in Mali for urgent action.
Narasama informed that she last spoke to her son over the phone on June 30 and since then his phone has been switched off.
“We are worried about Venkatraman as he might be held hostage by terrorists. The government should take immediate steps for his safe return,” said M Ram Krushna, one of his relatives.
Earlier on Wednesday, India expressed serious concern over the abduction of three of its nationals in Mali amid a wave of attacks in the West African country.
In a statement in July 2, the MEA said, “The incident occurred on July 1 when a group of armed assailants carried out a coordinated attack at the factory premises and forcibly took three Indian nationals as hostages.”
“The government of India unequivocally condemns this deplorable act of violence and calls upon the government of the Republic of Mali to take all necessary measures to secure the safe and expeditious release of the abducted Indian nationals,” it added.
