Two Indian migrant workers were killed in the West African country of Niger and another was abducted after a terror attack on their worksite on Tuesday, officials said.
One of the deceased workers was Ganesh Karmali, 39, from Jharkhand’s Bokaro district, a state government official said. The other has been identified only as Krishnan from a southern India state, said an activist from Jharkhand who has been working on the repatriation of the bodies.
The activist, Sikandar Ali, claimed that the abducted worker was one Ranjit Singh from Jammu & Kashmir.
The Indian Embassy in Niger confirmed the deaths and the abduction in a post on X but did not share details. “In a heinous terror attack on 15 July in Niger’s Dosso region, two Indian nationals tragically lost their lives and one was abducted. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Mission in Niamey is in touch with local authorities to repatriate mortal remains and ensure safe release of the abducted Indian. All Indians in Niger are advised to remain vigilant,” said the post.
Karmali was working on a transmission line in Dosso city when he was caught in a crossfire between local police and the militant group that launched the attack. He died on the spot, state officials have learnt.
According to Karmali’s family, his brother-in-law Premlal Karmali also worked at the same site and sustained bullet injuries. He is currently under police protection in Niger, along with four other migrant workers from Jharkhand who are safe and looking to return home.
Karmali, a resident of Karipani village under Tilaiya panchayat in Gomia block, was employed by Transrail Lighting Ltd, an India-based company that undertakes power transmission projects abroad. He had been working in Dosso for about a year.
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Shikha Lakra, head of the State Migrant Workers Control Room under the Labour Department, confirmed the developments and said: “The matter is being handled by the Indian Embassy in Niger. The body has already been taken into custody by the embassy, and a no-objection certificate has been received from the family.”
She said: “He died in the crossfire. His brother-in-law was also injured but is safe and under protection. The remaining four workers from Jharkhand are safe and want to return. We’ve initiated the official process and written to the Embassy.”
Lakra said the state Labour Department is coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs for the swift repatriation of the body.
Sapna Kumari, Ganesh Karmali’s 20-year-old daughter, said her father had assured the family that his company insurance cover was worth Rs 40 lakh. “But now the contractor is saying they will only give us Rs 12 lakh. Before I could even reach home, they got papers signed from us under pressure,” she alleged.
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“We haven’t even been contacted by the company directly. Only the contractor is speaking to us. We just want justice and for my father’s body to return with dignity,” she said, holding back tears.
Sapna, who got married earlier this month on July 2, said her father had not attended the wedding but had promised to come on July 20. “I have a two-year-old brother and a four-year-old sister. My mother Yashoda Devi is in shock,” she said.
Ali, the local activist, visited the family and said: “I was told the company was pressuring them not to share any information.”
On April 25 this year, workers from Jharkhand were caught in a crossfire between police forces in Niger and hundreds of armed militants on motorbikes. While trying to flee the scene, five workers were abducted by the group.
