A 27-year-old man from Jharkhand, Vijay Kumar Mahato, was killed in a crossfire between Saudi police and suspected liquor smugglers in Jeddah last month. Indian authorities are working with their Saudi counterparts to repatriate his body and secure compensation for his family.
Mahato, a resident of Dudhapania village in Giridih district, had been working with Hyundai Engineering and Construction as a tower line fitter for the past nine months. He was at a work site to collect materials on the instructions of a senior company official when local police reportedly opened fire during an anti-smuggling operation.
Caught in the middle of the exchange, Mahato was accidentally struck by police gunfire. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries on October 24, according to reports.
Initially, Mahato’s family believed he had survived. News agency PTI reported that he had sent a voice message to his wife, Basanti Devi, via WhatsApp, saying he was caught in crossfire and had been injured.
Sikander Ali, a social activist working on migrant labour issues, said the shooting occurred during an operation involving Jeddah police and an extortion gang connected to the illegal liquor trade.
“Devi informed her in-laws, but they thought he was under treatment. It was only on October 24 that his company informed the family that he had died in the shootout,” Ali told.
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Efforts underway to bring back the body
Following the incident, Dumri MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato wrote to the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia, urging a fair and transparent investigation into Vijay’s death.
In his letter, the legislator requested that arrangements be made to bring the body back to India promptly and called for legal and financial support for the bereaved family.
Officials from Jharkhand’s labour department said they were coordinating with the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia to ensure the repatriation of Mahato’s remains.
Shikha Lakra, team leader at the Migrant Control Cell, confirmed that the department had received official communication about the incident and a request from Giridih district authorities for repatriation.
“We got in touch with the Indian embassy immediately and are trying to contact Jeddah police authorities to complete the formalities and bring back the body to his native place,” Lakra told the media.
Call for compensation
Sikander Ali said he had alerted both the state labour department and the Giridih district administration to assist Mahato’s family and seek compensation from Saudi authorities.
Vijay is survived by his wife, Basanti Devi, their two sons, Rishi Kumar (5) and Roshan Kumar (3), his father, Suryanarayan Mahato, and his mother, Savitri Devi.
Officials said efforts are ongoing to ensure the family receives all due support as Indian authorities continue to engage with Saudi officials over the incident.
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