Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 23: In a heart-warming news, two youths from Mangaluru who were stranded in Saudi Arabia after a recruitment agent allegedly cheated them, have been rescued and will soon reach the city.
As reported in these columns earlier, Puneeth from Ganjimutt and Damodar from Mulky were allegedly duped by a city-based recruitment agency and forced to work as shepherds in Saudi Arabia, where they were not even paid salaries. They were stranded in Saudi Arabia after their employer seized their passports.
Daijiworld and some other local media carried a report about the plight of the two youths. Indian Social Forum, responding to the media reports, took up the cause and made necessary arrangements for the youths' release. The Forum has confirmed to daijiworld that the youths would be reaching Mangaluru in a day or two.
ISF members with the Puneeth and Damodar in Saudi
ISF members with Puneeth's family
Speaking to daijiworld, Indian Social Forum member Fayaz Uppinangady said, "It is a good news to all of us that Puneeth and Damodar are freed from Saudi where they worked as shepherds since last December without even getting salary. Today, the members of Indian Social Forum including me visited Puneeth's family and informed them about his and Damodar's rescue.
"Last December both of them went to Saudi Arabia with promise of being hired as painters with a good salary. But once they reached there, they were forced to work in the desert as shepherds, without proper food, accommodation or any connectivity to homeland. Even salary was also denied by the employer. They suffered a lot.
"A few days back with the help of some strangers, they were able to connect with their friends. They informed their situation to their family members. The families of both the youths sought help from the Indian Embassy. At the same time, some of their friends informed the Indian media and without delay, the media took up this matter with seriousness. After learning about the plight of Puneeth and Damodar, Indian Social Forum decided to help them. Information about them was sent to our Buraidah unit.
"Our members, namely Rasheed Uchila, Rauf Kalai, Ayub Katipalla and I visited the desert where Puneeth and Damodar worked and got information about their local sponsor. Than we met the local sponsor and explained to him how these youths had been cheated by the recruiting agency. But the sponsor rejected our request to release of Puneeth and Damodar. We had to bargain a lot, as he demanded huge amount to free them," Fayaz explained.
"But once it was clear that the sponsor would not budge, we knocked the doors of Saudi labour court. The officials of the labour court believed us and confirmed that Puneeth and Damodar had been cheated and were being used as slaves. The officials ordered the sponsor to release the youths immediately and to pay them the pending salary. Now both the youths have received exit letter from the sponsor and also all dues. We are now looking for availability of flights and once the tickets are confirmed, Puneeth and Damodar will fly back to India," he said.
The happy news has brought a huge sigh of relief to the youths' families, who are now looking forward to the reunion with their loved ones. Kudos to Indian Social Forum for the commendable job.