Originally from Kerala, an Indian catholic man was hit by a stray bullet that came through a window of his flat. More than 4,000 Indians currently live in the African country plunged into chaos following the outbreak of violence between the country’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – An Indian national is among the people killed after violence broke out two days ago in Sudan pitting the country’s military against the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force.
The Indian embassy in Khartoum said the victim's name was Albert Augustine, 48, from Nellippara, a village in Kannur district, Kerala.
According to the Indian Express, the dead man was a retired Indian army officer who in 2022 became the head of security for the DAL Group, a Sudanese industrial conglomerate with interests in agriculture, food, energy, and education.
Augustine was on the phone with his son when he was hit by a stray bullet that went through an open window in his flat. Just a few days earlier, his family had joined him in Sudan for a short Easter vacation.
"His wife and children were with him when he was hit - his sister, Sr Remya Thomas, tells AsiaNews -. They saw him die before their eyes. He was hit by accident, it is a tragedy. The Indian authorities have mobilised to provide assistance and facilitate the return of the body. Many people have shown their closeness to our family".
Since last Saturday, when fighting broke out, the Sudanese capital has been the scene of shelling and explosions.
Both sides are claiming control of key sites, like the presidential palace and the airport, with the latter closed for a second consecutive day.
Medical sources report more than 50 dead and more than 600 wounded.
In New Delhi, Indian authorities are closely monitoring the situation in Sudan given that at least 4,000 Indian nationals are in the country, 1,200 who have been in Khartoum for decades.
On Saturday, the Indian embassy released a statement inviting all Indians not to leave their homes and to take immediately all necessary precautions.