Keralite dies in crossfire in Sudan clashes

He was an ex-serviceman and was working in Khartoum in Sudan

A man from India died after being hit by “a stray bullet” in Sudan, which witnessed violent clashes between its army and a paramilitary force since Saturday.

The death of Albert Augustine, who hails from the Kannur district in Kerala, was confirmed by the Embassy of India in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The embassy tweeted that Augustine was an employee of a company affiliated with the Dal Group and he was hit by “a stray bullet” on Saturday. He later succumbed to his injuries, New Delhi’s diplomatic mission in Khartoum stated in its tweet on Sunday. “(The) Embassy is in touch with family and medical authorities to make further arrangements.”

The Dal Group is one of the biggest business conglomerates of the Northeastern African nation. Augustine, a 48-year-old ex-serviceman, was working as a supervisor of a company affiliated with the group.

Khartoum and other areas in Sudan of late witnessed violent clashes between the soldiers of the country’s army loyal to de facto president Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the personnel of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) owing allegiance to his deputy and rival Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

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Augustine’s death in Sudan has left his family in India “devastated and in a state of shock”, K Sudhakaran, the president of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday. He wrote that the wife and children of the deceased were “waiting for his mortal remains” to be brought back to his village at Nellippara in Kannur in Kerala.

The member of the Lok Sabha from Kannur requested for “urgent intervention” of the external affairs minister in repatriating the body of the slain Indian.

“Deeply grieved to learn about the death of an Indian national in Khartoum. The Embassy is making all efforts to extend fullest assistance to the family,” Jaishankar, himself, posted on Twitter. “The situation in Khartoum remains one of great concern. We will continue to monitor developments.”

Soon after the violent clash between the soldiers loyal to the two military leaders broke out, the Embassy of India in Khartoum on Saturday took to Twitter to alert all Indians living in Sudan. “In view of reported firings and clashes, all Indians in Sudan are advised to take utmost precautions, stay indoors and stop venturing outside with immediate effect,” New Delhi’s diplomatic mission in the capital of Sudan tweeted. It also advised all Indians planning to travel to Sudan to postpone their departure.

Nearly 2500 Indians are estimated to be living in Sudan. Besides, about 1200 Sudanese citizens have ancestral roots in India.