HP seeks MEA help for release of men stranded in Saudi

SHIMLA:

Himachal Pradesh government has sought intervention of central government for the safe release of 13 men from Mandi district who were stranded in Saudi Arabia.

Chief minister (CM) Jai Ram Thakur on Saturday spoke to external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj over telephone and sought her help in raising the issue with the government in Saudi Arabia.

Of 13 men, nine belong to Sundernagar and four are residents of Balh segment of Mandi district.

A government spokesperson said, “The CM spoke with the external affairs minister in the morning and raised the issue.”

The matter caught attention of the government after the relatives of one of stranded persons approached the police for help.

Complainant Saroju Kumari alleged that her husband Harjinder Singh along with 12 others came in contact with agent Mohammad Asif of Sundernagar.

In her compliant, she alleged that the agent had charged ₹90,000 for arranging travel documents and had promised high paying jobs in Saudi Arabia.

She alleged that the agent sent 14 Indians, including 13 from Himachal and one from Punjab on tourist visa for three months and said that the company, where they will be employed, will arrange for the working visa.

She said even though tourist visa of all had expired, they were not yet provided with working visa and forced to work overtime without extra incentives.

Saroju told the police that the company owners had confiscated passports of all 14 men.

The stranded persons were identified as Tanuj Kumar, Ravi Kant, Ashwani, Shyam Lal, Onkar Chand, Devendra Kumar, Vikram Chand, Prem Singh, Joginder Singh, Manoj Kumar, Lalit Kumar, Devender and Bhupendra of district Mandi.

Meanwhile, Mandi MP Ram Swaroop Sharma, in a press release here, informed that he has written and requested to Union external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj and Himachal Pradesh CM to rescue 13 men stranded in Saudi Arabia.

MP said that he will meet personally to Sushma Swaraj at New Delhi in a day or two and request her to fasten the action to ensure safe return of the youths.

Sundernagar police have registered a case under section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and are investigating the issue.