“‘He sent wife a voice note before dying’: Caught in crossfire during shootout, Jharkhand man working in Saudi Arabia shot”

A man from Jharkhand’s Giridih district was shot dead in Saudi Arabia earlier this month after being caught in a crossfire between local police and criminals involved in the illegal liquor trade, officials and family members said.

Vijay Kumar Mahato (27), a resident of Dudhapania village under Dumri block, was working with Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company in Saudi Arabia. According to his family, he went there about a year ago to work on transmission line projects…

…Mahato’s brother-in-law Ram Prasad Mahato said the incident occurred on October 15 when Vijay was walking near his worksite and got caught in a gunfire between the police and local extortionists operating around the area…

The Head of the State Migrant Control Cell under the Jharkhand Labour Department, Shikha Lakra, said they received a complaint regarding the incident…

Family members said they will not proceed with formalities to bring back the body until the company agrees to pay the compensation. “The company must be held responsible. We will not receive the body until we get written assurance of compensation,” Ram Prasad said…

The project manager and site manager of the company were unavailable for comment.