Relatives of two technicians, who were allegedly abducted by an armed gang while working in an oil installation in war-ravaged South Sudan, have sought the help of Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to ensure their early release.
‘No protective cover’
According to the relatives, B. Mithun Ganesh (25) of Vadakkankulam in Tirunelveli district and Edward Ambrose (40) of Monday Market in Kanniyakumari district, working as Well Head Operators in an oil installation at Palouch in Sudan, went in a car to fix a snag in an oil well situated about 35 km from their location on March 8.
Though technicians attending to technical snag would usually be accompanied by armed guards, considering the volatile situation prevailing in the country, the duo did not get the protective cover. Without engaging a local driver, they took the car out.
Embassy informed
“When they failed to return to the base after fixing the snag even after three hours, his superiors started searching for them. But the mobile phones and wireless sets kept by the duo remained switched off. Hence, their superiors informed the Indian Embassy in Sudan of the possible abduction of the two by an armed gang involved in the ongoing conflict at Kasab in South Sudan,” said a close relative of Mr. Mithun.
An oil rig employee, who had worked in Sudan, said that the armed groups involved in the conflict would invade colonies where foreign workers, mostly Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Malaysians and Sri Lankans, resided and rob them of currencies, particularly US dollars and food at gunpoint.
Ransom angle
“There were instances of killing of foreign workers during these raids, but no Tamilian has been killed so far. This abduction could be for ransom,” he said. On getting information from the employer, relatives of Mr. Mithun and Mr. Edward forwarded petitions to the Chief Minister and the External Affairs Minister, seeking their intervention to ensure the release of their breadwinners.
Radhapuram MLA I.S. Inbadurai, who met the relatives at Vadakkankulam on Friday, assured them that he would persuade the Chief Minister to contact the Ministry of External Affairs immediately for the early release of Mr. Mithun and Mr. Edward.
