New Delhi, July 3 (ANI): India has expressed grave concern over the abduction of three Indian workers from a factory in Mali’s Kayes region during a terrorist attack and has called on Malian authorities to ensure their “safe and expeditious” release.
In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it learned that “many military and government installations at multiple locations in western and central Mali were attacked by terrorists on July 1.” The armed assault targeted the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, where the Indian nationals were abducted.
Condemning the incident, the MEA called the act “deplorable” and reaffirmed India’s firm opposition to 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 said.
“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. Senior officials of the Ministry are closely monitoring the evolving situation and remain engaged at various levels to facilitate their safe and early release,” the statement added.
According to media reports, the attack on the Diamond Cement Factory was allegedly carried out by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.
The assault in Kayes was reportedly part of a series of coordinated attacks on Tuesday, which also targeted the border town of Diboli near Senegal and surrounding areas, including Kayes and Sandere. Additional attacks were reported in Nioro du Sahel and Gogoui, northwest of Bamako near Mauritania’s border, as well as in Molodo and Niono in central Mali, according to Mali’s armed forces cited by Reuters.
The Indian embassy in Mali remains in close contact with the families of the abducted workers and continues to coordinate with local authorities to secure their release.
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