Mangalore: Deserted in a Desert, Man Pleads Mother for Help

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Jun 23: He went to Saudi Arabia to be employed as an office boy, hoping to live a better life for himself and for his family. Now, Ashraf of Ullal near here is made to work in a desert day in and day out, with not enough food to sustain him.

Ashraf's mother Asiyamma has urged police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh to take steps to bring Ashraf back to India. In her statement, she said that one Farooq from Manjeshwar had lured Ashraf with the promised of a lucrative job as office boy, for which he also took Rs 60,000 as charges. At Saudi airport, another person from Manjeshwar, Abdullah, received him and handed him over to a Saudi national.

A few days later, Ashraf called home saying that he was in a desert and was being made to work day and night. There was not enough food either, he said. That was the last time he called, said Asiyamma.

As there was no communication from Ashraf, Asiyamma met Farooq. He assured that he would trace Abdullah with the help of some people from Manjeshwar over there. However, Asiyamma was never give any information about her son's whereabouts.

Two months later, there was a missed call from a Saudi number, and when called back, it turned out to be Ashraf, who had called from someone else's mobile number. He said that he was being beaten up by his employers, not given enough food and made to sleep in the desert. "My health has deterorated," he is understood to have said, pleading his mother to save him.

"I was aghast listening to him. With the help of my brothers, we got in touch with Abdullah. He demanded Rs 1.5 lac to release Ashraf. We cannot afford to pay so much, hence I have approched the police for help," said Asiyamma.

She said that she suspects Farooq of foul play, adding that he in turn may have been cheated by Abdullah. She has urged the poilce commissioner to insvestigate the matter.