Jaipur Family Pleads for Action to Free Abducted Kin in Mali

The family of Prakash Chandra Joshi, a 61-year-old Jaipur resident abducted in Mali on July 1, has urged the Indian government to escalate efforts to secure his release. Joshi, one of three Indian nationals kidnapped during a coordinated attack on the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, joined the company as general manager on June 5. His wife, Suman Joshi, last spoke to him on June 30, when he mentioned feeling unwell and was advised to return home.

“His phone became unreachable after that call,” Suman told PTI. “On July 2, factory officials informed our daughter Chitra about the abduction.” The family, residing in Vaishali Nagar, Jaipur, remains in distress, with no clarity on Joshi’s whereabouts or the kidnappers’ demands. “Initially, the company claimed he was safe, but now they say they don’t know where he is,” Suman added. On Saturday, factory officials found Joshi’s passport and belongings in his room, heightening the family’s fears.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) condemned the attack, linked to suspected Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which targeted multiple sites in Mali on July 1. The Indian Embassy in Bamako is coordinating with Malian authorities, local law enforcement, and the factory’s management, operated by the Hyderabad-based Prasaditya Group, while maintaining contact with the families. The MEA has urged Mali’s government to ensure the “safe and expeditious” release of the hostages, with senior officials closely monitoring the situation.

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The other abducted Indians are Kurakula Amaralingeswara Rao from Telangana and P Venkataraman from Odisha. The family has appealed to Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Rajasthan leaders for intervention, expressing frustration over the lack of direct communication from the MEA. “We’re in touch with the ministry, but we need faster action,” Suman said. The absence of a public claim from the kidnappers adds to the uncertainty, leaving the family desperate for answers.

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