A 27-year-old man from Jharkhand’s Giridih district was killed in Saudi Arabia earlier this month after getting caught in a crossfire between local police and suspected liquor smugglers. The victim, Vijay Kumar Mahato, a resident of Dudhapania village under Dumri block, had been working in a private company as a tower line fitter for the last nine months.

According to officials, Mahato was killed in Jeddah on October 16. His family initially believed he had survived after being injured, news agency PTI reported.

“He had sent a voice message on WhatsApp to his wife, Basanti Devi, saying he was caught in a crossfire and had been hurt,” said Sikander Ali, a social activist who works on migrant worker issues.

“Devi informed her in-laws, but they thought he was being treated. It was only on

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