Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, Naveen Patnaik, on Saturday expressed concern over abduction of P Venkatraman of Hinjilicut block of Ganjam district been by an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group in the West African nation of Mali.
In a post on X, he requested External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar 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
A similar appeal has also been made by Odisha Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena. “His safe return is a matter of deep concern for the family and the people of the state. Kindly help,” he wrote on X, tagging the External Affairs Minister.
The 28-year-old is among the three Indians, who were taken hostage during an assault by armed terrorists on the premises of the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes in western Mali on July 1.
“We are closely coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and concerned Indian Embassy about the incident and waiting for their response,” Principal Resident Commissioner, Odisha at New Delhi,Vishal Gagan told PTI over phone.
His mother P Narasamma, a widow, lodged a complaint with police on Friday evening after she found his phone switched off. She last spoke to him on June 30.
Venkatraman had been working with Mumbai-based Blue Star Pvt Ltd, which deputed him to Mali to serve at the Diamond Cement facility. He had been posted there for approximately six months.
Narasamma said that she got a phone call on Thursday at about 11 am from his son’s parent company who informed that he was now under police custody and and assured her not to worry. The family was subsequently informed by local contacts and social media that he may have been kidnapped by terrorists. “First they said he is in custody, now we hear he is in captivity. I am very much worried about the fate of my son. I requested the government for his safe release,” she added.
