The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Albert Augustine, a native of the Kannur district’s Nellippara village.
An ex-serviceman from Kerala was killed in Khartoum on Saturday after being struck by stray bullets during the ongoing violent battling between the country’s army and paramilitary in the capital city of Sudan.
The deceased has been identified as 48-year-old Albert Augustine, a native of the Kannur district’s Nellippara village. He has been a security superintendent for a company in Sudan. Another Keralite who lived in Albert’s neighbourhood in Sudan relayed the incident to his Alavellil family in Kannur.
According to the president of the Alakode village panchayat, K M Joseph, Albert was struck by a bullet when he opened the window of his home to contact his son, who studies in the United Kingdom. Two weeks ago, Albert’s wife Sybella and daughter travelled to Sudan for a brief vacation.
The Indian embassy in Khartoum reported that Augustine worked in Sudan for a Dal Group company. The body of Albert Augustine has been transferred to the hospital, according to the Indian Embassy. His wife and daughter have been relocated to the apartment’s cellar to avoid further assaults.
In the meantime, the Central Government has assured the family of its assistance and is taking measures to bring his mortal remains to India. V Muraleedharan, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, stated that the Indian Embassy in Sudan has been tasked with coordinating further action.
In several areas of Khartoum, there have reportedly been explosions and skirmishes amid escalating hostilities between a paramilitary organisation and the Sudanese Army.
Since a coup d’état in October 2021, the Sudanese military has ruled the country through a sovereign council. The Army and the paramilitary have disputed over the proposed timeline for the transfer of power to the civilian government.
According to official statistics, there are approximately 4,000 Indians in Sudan, including 1,200 who settled there decades ago.