In a tragic and shocking incident, a 41-year-old Malayali man from Kasaragod, Kerala, was shot dead in Bisha, located in the Asir province of Saudi Arabia. The deceased has been identified as Basheer, a long-time expatriate working in the Gulf for the past 13 years under a house driver visa.

The attack occurred on Saturday night while Basheer was washing his vehicle near his residence. A group of unidentified assailants arrived in a car and opened fire. Local residents, alarmed by the sound, rushed to the scene and found Basheer gravely injured and bleeding inside the vehicle.

An Egyptian national nearby rushed him to the hospital, but Basheer succumbed to his injuries en route. CCTV footage reportedly shows a vehicle approaching the area shortly before the attack. Witnesses also saw Basheer buying food from a local souk just before returning home.

His body is currently preserved at the King Abdullah Hospital mortuary in Bisha. Hamza Kannur, President of Bisha KMCC and a member of the Jeddah Indian Consulate Welfare Committee, is coordinating the post-mortem and consular formalities.

Basheer is survived by his wife Nasrin Begum, daughter Mariyum Hala, son Muhammad Bilal, and parents Asainar Muhammad and Mariyumma Muhammad. He was also an active member of the Indian Cultural Foundation (ICF).

Local social workers Abdul Aziz Pathiparamban and Mujeeb Saqafi are assisting with legal processes. Saudi police have initiated an investigation, but no further details have been released.