Saudi Arabia releases two of 12 Himachal men

OF THOSE DETAINED IN RIYADH, NINE HAIL FROM SUNDERNAGAR AND FOUR FROM BALH IN MANDI DISTRICT

SHIMLA: After frantic efforts made by the ministry of external affairs, the Saudi Arabian government has released two of the 12 men hailing from Himachal Pradesh, who were lodged at the deportation centre in Riyadh.

Tanuj Kumar and Devender Kumar, both residents of Mandi district, were released by the Saudi Arabian government, after the ministry of external affairs (MEA) raised the issue, said a government spokesperson here on Tuesday.

The spokesperson said that all the stranded men were safe.

The 12 persons had left for Saudi Arabia in July for a job.

“According to the information shared with the state government by RV Prasad, director (Gulf), MEA, the Indian embassy in Riyadh has informed that all the 14 Indians, including 12 from Himachal Pradesh and two persons from Punjab were lodged at the Riyadh deportation centre," said the government spokesperson.

Of those detained in Riyadh, nine are residents of Sundernagar and four are residents of Balh segment in Mandi district.

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

She mentioned that the agent had sent 14 Indians, including 13 from Himachal Pradesh and one from Punjab on tourist visa for three months.

She allege that the agent hadtold them that the company, where they will be employed, will arrange for working visa.

Kumari said even after the tourist visa of all these people had expired, they were not provided with working visa and were forced to work overtime without extra incentives.

After the matter came to light, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur had written to Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj with a request to take up the matter with the Saudi Arabia authorities for their release.

"Onkar Chand from Punjab has already been deported to India. Two citizens namely Tanuj Kumar and Devender Kumar, who belong to Mandi district have been released by their sponsor,” the spokesperson said.

"The officials from Indian embassy in Riyadh also met the officials concerned of the deportation centre seeking their early repatriation to India. The embassy has informed that it seems all the citizens came illegally to Saudi Arabia in violation of the extant norms" he said.

The embassy has assured that it will continue to extend all possible help and follow up for their safe repatriation to India.