Three Indian citizens working at a cement factory in Mali have been abducted by gunmen linked to Al Qaida, Indian officials confirmed on Thursday. The incident took place during a coordinated assault on the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes, a western region of the West African country.

According to local reports, heavily armed assailants stormed the facility and took the workers hostage. The attackers are believed to be members of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a group affiliated with Al Qaida that has conducted numerous operations across Mali.

India Seeks Safe Release of Abductees

Indian authorities are in touch with Malian officials and have launched efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted nationals. The Indian embassy in Bamako has urged all Indian citizens residing in Mali to remain vigilant and avoid travel in high-risk zones.

JNIM has been responsible for a series of violent incidents in Mali, contributing to ongoing insecurity in the Sahel region. The group has targeted both local forces and international personnel in the past.

The Indian government has not yet released the names of the abductees. Rescue operations remain underway.