Ramban resident missing in Niger: Centre acting swiftly to trace him: Sat Sharma

Jammu, Jul 22: Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sat Sharma Tuesday stated that he had written to the External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar urging for all necessary measures through diplomatic and official channels to locate Ranjit Singh, a resident of Ramban missing in Niger, and ensure his safe return.

He assured the aggrieved family that the party was standing firmly with it (family) in the hour of anxiety and would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Ranjit Singh was traced and brought back safely.

He gave this assurance to a deputation which called upon him at the party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, to raise concern over the missing case of Ranjit Singh, a resident of village Chakka Kundi in district Ramban, who has reportedly gone missing in Niger, Africa since July 15, 2025.

Ranjit Singh, who had been serving as a Safety Officer with Transrail Lighting Limited for the past five years, was posted at Gosso, Niger. The deputation informed the BJP leader that all forms of communication with Ranjit Singh ceased in recent days, leaving the family and community in deep distress.

Recognizing the gravity and urgency of the matter, the deputation urged Sat Sharma to take up the issue with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, for immediate intervention and assistance in tracing the missing individual and ensuring his safe return.

Responding with promptness and concern, Sat Sharma immediately communicated the matter to the MEA, personally writing to External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. He urged the Ministry to initiate all necessary measures through diplomatic and official channels to locate and repatriate Ranjit Singh safely and at the earliest.

Speaking to the deputation, Sat Sharma said, “The safety and well-being of every Indian citizen abroad is of utmost importance to us. I have taken up this matter with the highest urgency and have personally requested the External Affairs Minister to take swift and decisive steps.”

Led by Arun Prabhat, president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Jammu and Kashmir, the deputation included Dr Gurdev Sharma, Dr Vipin Singh, Onkar Singh, R D Bandral, and several prominent citizens from diverse backgrounds, who all appreciated the immediate response of the J&K BJP president and expressed hope that swift intervention by the Government of India would bring relief to the anxious family.