Indian man, 27, shot dead in crossfire between cops, smugglers in Saudi Arabia
PTC News Desk: A 27-year-old man from Jharkhand was killed in Saudi Arabia last month after being caught in a crossfire between local police and suspected liquor smugglers. The deceased, identified as Vijay Kumar Mahato from Dudhapania village in Giridih district, had been employed as a tower line fitter with Hyundai Engineering and Construction for the past nine months.
According to reports, Mahato had gone to the work site to collect materials on the instructions of a senior company official when police opened fire during an anti-smuggling operation.
He was accidentally hit by a bullet and rushed to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 24. Before his death, Vijay sent a voice note to his wife on WhatsApp, informing her that he had been injured in the crossfire. His family initially believed he had survived the incident.
"He had sent a voice message on WhatsApp to his wife, Basanti Devi, saying he was caught in a crossfire and had been hurt," said Sikander Ali, a social activist who works on migrant worker issues.
He said the exchange of fire took place between Jeddah police and an extortion gang linked to the illegal liquor trade.
"Devi informed her in-laws, but they thought he was being treated. It was only on October 24 that his company told the family he had died in the shootout," Ali added.
- PTC NEWS
