‘Bring my son home’: Mother pleads as terrorists abduct J&K man in Niger

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday voiced deep concern over the abduction of Ranjeet Singh, a resident of the Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir, by terrorists in West Africa’s Niger, and urged External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar to intervene in the matter immediately and secure his safe and swift return.

A post on the chief minister’s official X handle read: “Chief Minister has expressed concern over the abduction of Ranjeet Singh, a resident of Ramban, in Niger. He urges the Hon’ble EAM @DrSJaishankar and @MEAIndia to urgently intervene to secure Ranjeet’s safe and swift return”.

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According to a post on X by the Indian Embassy in Niamey, a “heinous terror attack” occurred on 15 July in Niger’s Dosso region, claiming the lives of two Indian nationals and resulting in the abduction of a third.

Ranjeet’s devastated parents and wife have also sought intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his swift return.

Ranjeet, a senior safety officer for Transrail Lighting Limited, was working at a construction site when gunmen opened fire, killing two of his colleagues and taking him captive.

His wife, Sheela Devi, said they last communicated via WhatsApp on the day of the attack and have had no contact since. Initial responses from his employer suggested that there was “no network at the work site,” but later, a friend confirmed Ranjeet had been abducted.

Ranjeet’s parents, based in the remote village of Chakka Kundi in Ramban district, are devastated and desperate for help. Ranjeet’s father, Mohan Lal Sen, pleaded: “We want to tell Modiji to act on it. The Government of India should work to bring him back. We have been suffering for the last 5–6 days. He has three little children. We are very worried about him—where he is abducted, has he eaten anything or not?”

Ranjeet’s mother, Sadhu Devi, remains in deep distress. “Please bring my son back. I want him back. I haven’t slept in nights or eaten anything. When will my son come back,” she asked, tears streaming down her face.

Anguished, Sheela Devi lamented: “I believe there is no effort to secure my husband’s release from his captors.”

She expressed frustration at what she described as a “cold response” from his employer and a lack of visible action by them. She has appealed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh and the Indian government to press for her husband’s release.

Local officials, including Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan, have reportedly offered assurances of support, but as yet, no breakthrough has been achieved.