Bhubaneswar, July 5 -- An Odia youth was reportedly abducted by a terror group linked to Al-Qaeda in the West African country of Mali. He was among three Indians kidnapped by the terror outfit.

The victim has been identified as P. Venkataraman, a resident of Samarajhola village in Hinjilicut, Ganjam district of Odisha.

Expressing a serious concern over the abduction of the Odia youth, Odisha government started initiative to bring him back to home state from the custody of terror outfit.

Source said that an official request has been made through resident commissioner to African Embassy to facilitate the abductee's safe release.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik, who represents Hinjilicut Constituency in Odisha Assembly, exp...