Naveen Patnaik Seeks EAM’s Help for Safe Release of Abducted Odia Youth in Mali

Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and BJD President Naveen Patnaik has urged External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to personally intervene for the early and safe release of an Odia youth reportedly abducted by militants in Mali, a conflict-torn country in West Africa.

The appeal follows a police complaint filed by the mother of the missing youth, P. Venkatraman, a 28-year-old resident of Hinjilicut block in Ganjam district. She informed local authorities that her son, who is employed at a cement factory in Mali, has been incommunicado for several days, raising fears of abduction. His last contact with the family was made shortly before his sudden disappearance.

Venkatraman hails from Naveen Patnaik’s own Assembly constituency, which the former Chief Minister has represented continuously since 2000. Expressing deep concern, Patnaik took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to call for urgent action.

“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,” Patnaik wrote.

The Ministry of External Affairs is yet to release an official statement in response to Patnaik’s appeal. However, the incident has sparked widespread concern across Odisha, especially in Ganjam, as efforts intensify to trace and rescue the missing youth.